Agenda item

This report is ‘To Follow’

The police had sent their apologies on this occasion because they were dealing with various protests in London, in particular with regards to Extinction Rebellion.

The Chairman expressed concern that much information was being provided by the police which in fact may be of little value with respect to this Committee’s role in scrutiny. He expressed the view that what was required was the setting up of a small task and finish group to look into what information was actually required for the Committee to fulfil its role, without causing significant extra unnecessary work for the police. It was important to clearly identify what the police should be reporting on.

It was noted that various police systems existed for identifying and extracting information, which made it difficult for the police in terms of collecting data to present to the Committee. In terms of the task and finish group, the Chairman hoped the police might agree to sit on the group, he also wanted the Vice Chairman of the PDS Committee to chair the task and finish group which should be ‘cross-party’.

A Member stated that what was required was to clarify the terms of reference that the police would operate under in respect to the scrutiny committee. The Chairman made it clear that he did not want to ask the police for information that was not really required; he wanted to streamline the process.

A Member suggested that when the police attended the Committee, they should report on a particular theme. The Chairman said that this approach had been trialled some years ago but was not particularly successful; going forward it would be the remit of the task and finish group to consider what should be scrutinised by the PDS Committee.

A Member stated that she found the current briefings useful and reiterated the view that the thematic approach had not worked.

A Co-opted member pointed out that police resources were tight and it was the case that new engagement panels were planned that would further stretch limited police resources. This being the case, it was important for the PDS Committee to scrutinise issues that were relevant and would make a difference.

A Member cautioned that it was possible to ‘create’ hotspots by making more arrests. The Chairman replied that hotspots had been identified in Penge, the Crays and Mottingham, but that it was important to clarify what was meant by ‘hotspots’.

A Member thanked the police for the excellent policing work that had been undertaken in the Crays with respect to drugs, where lots of arrests had been made.

The police had said that they would be issuing PCNs with respect to aggressive beggars in the borough. Members noted that the same problematic beggar was still operating in the Penge area.

A Member expressed the view that the last Community Impact Day in the Penge area was not successful and was not in reality an Impact Day at all. It was the case that when the police arrived they were directed straight to Betts Park. There was no briefing for the police officers to instruct them where to go. A weapons sweep was conducted, but again this was limited to Betts Park. The point the Member was making that what occurred (in her view) was more some sort of youth related activity within Betts Park and was not a proper Community Impact Day. The community felt somewhat cheated; she hoped that this was not just a ‘tick box’ exercise to say that the full Community Impact Day had taken place when in fact this was not the case. She hoped that measures would be taken to avoid a similar scenario arising in the future. The Chairman said that the Director would look into what happened on that occasion.

A Member referred back to the issue of beggars and stated that there was still one at Bromley South on a Saturday evening and there were still beggars on trains and bus stops. The Chairman said that the number for British Transport Police was publicised on trains and buses, and that they responded swiftly to reported incidents. It was suggested that BTP be invited to speak to the Committee.

The Committee expressed concern around the dangers posed by motorised scooters. They were dangerous because they were fast and silent. This was a matter that the Chairman wished to take up with the police. It was felt that in some cases their use could prove deadly. 

RESOLVED that: 

1) A Task and Finish Group be set up and chaired by the Vice Chairman of the PDS Committee, Councillor Colin Hitchins. Councillor Kathy Bance and the police would also be invited to sit on the group. The remit of the task and finish group would be to establish specifically what matters should be reported to the PDS Committee from the police and in what form.

2) Enquiries should be made with the police so that an update could be provided concerning what was being done to tackle the problem of aggressive begging in Bromley.

3) The Director for Environment and Public Protection would investigate what went wrong at the last Community Impact Day in Penge.

4) British Transport Police should be invited to attend a future committee meeting.

5) Enquiries should be made with the police to ascertain what plans they had to tackle the problem and dangers posed by motorised scooters in the borough.