New Patrol Team for the City Centre

The agenda for the 24 February West Central Area Committee Meeting included a report on Alcohol Related ASB Associated with the Night Economy.  During this agenda item the police reported on the formation of a new city centre patrol team which will aim, amongst other things, to deal with the trouble associated with alcohol-fueled antisocial behaviour in the city centre.  The new police unit will have a remit to:

1) deal with alcohol-related crime and disorder in the city centre;

2) deal with the problem of cycle crime in the city;

3) respond to seasonal crime demands such as winter retail theft and summer street robbery; and

4) take on the duties carried out by the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Market Ward.

The team will have dual aims: during the day it will focus on cycle crimes; at night the team will conduct city centre patrols targeting alcohol-related crime and disorder hotspots.

This development has come about in part in response to residents’ increasing concern about the prevalence of alcohol-fueled antisocial behaviour.  Market Ward resident Andrea Reiner welcomed the move: “I am pleased to see the police respond to our concerns in this way.  We also need to address the roots of these problems, but this is a step in the right direction.”

Action on antisocial behaviour

Andrea Reiner and Tim Bick

Lib Dems have taken action aimed at reducing alcohol- related antisocial behaviour in the city centre.

Local campaigner Andrea Reiner commented, “I live in the Park Street Area and noise from late night drinking consistently wakes my young children at night.  This will only get worse as the weather improves.”

Lib Dems have called for a review of all the methods available to tackle this problem. A report will be brought to area committee on 24th Feb.

“We want to check that all the powers are being used effectively,” says Councillor Tim Bick.

The City’s Community Safety Partnership is set to adopt alcohol- related violent crime as one of 3 priorities in its new 3-year plan.

Tim Bick represents the Council in the Partnership.

Andrea Reiner also welcomed moves by the Lib Dems in government to allow the council to impose a levy on late night licenses.

Brunswick Terrace Pavement repaired

Brunswick Terrace’s pavement has finally been resurfaced after 10 months of lobbying by Cllr Sarah Whitebread and local residents. The pavement has now been flattened and is in a much better condition.

Sarah said, “It shouldn’t take this long for the Tory-run County Council to fix. The County’s new budget cuts funding for such repairs even more. These sort of small jobs should be sorted out in a matter of weeks.”

City Council steps in for disabled people

After inaction by the Tory-run County Council, Lib Dems have stepped in and installed three new mobility crossings in the city centre.

The new crossings are on Trumpington Street, Tennis Court Road and Jesus Lane.

“These were among the key sites where wheelchair users said they were struggling,” said Cllr Tim Bick, who campaigned for this.

“There are many more needed in the medieval streets of the city centre, but much more progress could be made if the County recognised their responsibility and didn’t just leave it to the City.”