Police Community meeting Notes

• 22 November 2023 6.30
• Chaired by Sally Casely
• Minutes: Serrie Chapman
• Attendees: 14 residents

Welcome to all and to our guest, PCSO – Luke Scadding – PCSO6688;

Community notices

• We have been successful with the latest CIL funding;
  • this includes:
    • ping pong table being repaired/replaced
    • a gate to stop people parking in the park
    • broken swing repair
    • some park gym equipment
    • also a walkway next to the new flats just before Barley mow to allow safe pedestrian walking.
  • We have passed the first part of the bid; this went in 6 months ago.
  • We now have to wait until next March to see if we have been successful for full funding.
• We successfully bid for a grant and were awarded £500 funding for fun day next year
• We have applied for Interim funding from the council for Friday night youth club support.
• Luis youth worker
  • as part of his work with Wellspring Settlement is holding football and boxing sessions on a Thursday night for age 11 upwards.
  • This will also bring in some much-needed income to the Dings.
• Christmas advent windows are being organised by Helen, see either Dings Facebook page or contact Helen at number 10 Birkin Street.
• The 506 bus that used to come along midland road has stopped
  • there is a petition trying to replace it with the 36, by diverting it along days road for shopping town etc
  • Its also, online post with Bristol post https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/petition-launched-bus-route-serve-8863930
• Councillor Yasim is dealing with the Barton House residents, so he is not available: last month he reported:
  • dog & caravan on the cycle track
  • cctv
  • drug dealing
  • stealing bikes
  • people trying car doors
  • lighting in Dings Park tunnel
  • flood lights in the park
  • knives and syringes.
  • A review/response will be on 28th November.
• Flood lights in the park – councillor Amal Ali was supposed to chase the lights, no news.
  • Luis spoke to the council and had a 10 day promise of a response – over 3 weeks ago! there is an hour wait to get through on the phone.
  • Luke to also chase up and push as priority. It will make the park safer etc.
• A zone resident has also been reporting everything online.
• Apologies from Oxford Street resident (unable to make meeting due to ill health) is seeing people from around 11/12 to about 6am in the park, there are cars pulling up and driving off at all times.
  • It has been reported online to the police.

Crime stats

• There’s been less reports from Shaftesbury crusade
  • A blue light has been added (deters drug taking)
• Plaza has gone up and priority and is getting immediate response
  • management company stated that they are looking into preventative measures
• Christopher Thomas court have a lot of issues.
  • Drug anti-social etc Someone in the lifts, the management companies were contacted, and they put a lock on the bin shed. The residents had to break in though, as they were not given the code.
  • New locks added and other preventative measures put in place.

Increase in car crime

• People may be emailed or contacted for CC TV footage.
  • It needs to be submitted against case number officially as they can’t use posts on Facebook.
• There was an attempted car break in on Barton Road.
  • The resident tried to post it online, but when you submit crime on the website is says it will allow upload – but it doesn’t .
  • No follow up 11 days later after added, against the original crime report. Submitted another report 12 days ago.
  • Nothing else been sent regarding it – not seen any logs.
  • Luke will follow up with comms as they may not be coming through to him.
• Luke to follow up on why they aren’t getting responses through his system etc.
  • Luke says there is a lot more reports now
  • the frequency the same but more people reporting each case.
• A resident from the zone:
  • tried to report people in the building online but the site kept crashing.
  • Got through on the phone but still not had a call response.
  • A sex toy was found, so assuming they will be back.
  • In the morning they were blocking the entrance – if they are causing alarm, harassment or distress Luke says to call it in to 999 – if they are polite and move on with a request then 101.
• A lot of parcel thefts.
  • A resident posted printouts to neighbours stating that although missing a parcel is important it’s not as high a priority as ensuring safety.
  • Management company don’t believe it’s their problem, to protect the building.
  • The building is the managements responsibility, but the people inside becomes a police issue.
• Plaza
  • When a resident was taking her kids to football, there was a woman going through the bins who was verbally abusive, on return they found 2 men in the stairwell – they argued about leaving it was suggested they wait outside.
  • It was very unnerving.
  • Someone is leaving the door on the latch.
  • Complaint put into Hillcrest:
  • they had urinated, undressed and left their clothes.
  • The resident cannot send her 15-year-old boy to do the bins as they are not sure of the situation he may be faced with
• Luke (in response):
  • 999 the issue and they will get a PSCO or someone else to come out.
  • Unsecured doors are due to broken latches, speak to Hillcrest.
  • Luke currently has an EBC (excessive behaviour contract) against the resident in question.
  • The resident hangs out on the chimney steps road, blares music, also shouting abuse to passing cyclists, the noise and behaviour upsets people who are working from home
• Dare too:
  • noisy in October, its thumping sounds coming from great speakers.
  • Luke said they know about the Cider Box as the station was affected by the noise, the day after Halloween.
  • Nola and Sal have been up to see Dare too last year and they are claiming they watch noise levels – but a push from police may be better.
  • When the new buildings are erected Midland Road, it should bounce the music noise away from the Dings.
  • Hopefully with the rain and cold weather most parties will be inside.
  • Interestingly dependent if a party is on the roof or in the courtyard the music goes in different directions (different roads)
• Union Road
  • The road is quieter than it was, but can still hear people at night from the park but not as much.
  • Heard of issues a couple of weeks ago where there were cars broken into – this was captured on video from a couple of houses.
  • Luke: If it’s too late on the report may not be able to get a prosecution but can make them a person of interest.
• Sally:
  • walking the dog in the early evening says a man, and a woman asked if she was “waiting” when they went into the children’s play park, this has happened to two other people.
  • Sally believes the woman called out the name Tiny to the man.
  • This is about 8 o clock in the evening.
  • Luke has had several reports from several people about that and can target patrols for that time in the evening now he knows the time.
  • Residents are avoiding the park as there was a man in the bushes which also scared some kids.
• Emmaus:
  • Saw someone running down the road with a weapon Luke says they were arrested.
  • It was on live stream and he’s now behind bars.
• A resident In the zone:
  • “says there’s a lot of people who “say” a lot on Facebook, but they don’t react, and they can’t even get a neighbourhood watch set up as people don’t engage.
  • Plaza attends but Crown & anchor and others don’t – there’s 499 apartments but none are engaging.
  • Also, half the issues are not being reported.
  • The “I live in the zone” Facebook page includes a majority who doesn’t live there – the other zone
  • Facebook page has more landlords.
  • Things need to change as its very unsafe currently.
• A resident saw 3 guys on bikes they were seen with 3 large rolls of insulation – if there was any missing footage available.
• Oxford street resident say’s there’s a large bush near the planters with prostitution happening.
  • Serrie suggests they cut them back with community gardening to expose the area
• Union street/Dings Walk?
  • One month ago, someone came into her back garden and stole her sons bike.
  • This is the 3 rd time
  • he tried to break the lock and then just scratched it with the knife.
  • Luke: did you report it?
  • No. A Neighbour has a video on union road. With footage they may be able to identify them.
  • Luke suggests getting cameras so they can all report issues but just cover your own house.
• Plaza resident says her sons bike went missing but it had bike markers on it.
  • Luke can arrange a bike marking session.
  • Frame number description and a parent’s details are needed.
  • The police have Apps on their work phones and can scan it.
  • To do it after Christmas as kids may get bikes for Xmas presents.
  • They can then contact you directly if they are found it’s hard to get the marking off.
• The biggest problem in the area is the lack of reporting, every time we open Facebook its full of thefts.
• Barton Road resident has Zoom and often sees people trying and putting the windows through – he has all the footage.
• Rather than Increasing police patrols he suggests putting the resources into finding and following up.
• A neighbour on dings walk saw people checking house doors and car doors at 3 am and climbing over to steal bikes.
• The neighbours also had motorbike was stolen – suggested reporting it.
• City space
  • some prostitution seen also at 3pm in the afternoon seen from the resident’s balcony.
• Drug dealing and movements were heavy in October, its slowed down now, maybe due to the weather.
• Re the caravan on the bike path:
  • The dog has had a welfare check.
  • The owner is being monitored
• The caravans on 55 days road have moved on!
  • the owner was there to change the locks.
  • There are some more caravans/vans private land near motion – police can’t act on that.
  • Not reported previously but they are now aware of website.
• Plaza:
  • Mid last week someone broke into bike storage and stole a few bikes
  • the management fixed it straight away
  • they came back the next day and broke them again.
• The next night a vehicle was broken into outside the barley mow.
• Concern about the rise in incidents, sometimes takes a couple of days to get through to Luke.
• Residents complain they never get a response from anything logged.
  • Luke – normally I would email or give a call.
  • May be others but could be a comms issues – any crime reference numbers?
  • Sometimes people will pick up Lukes’s area and he’s not sure how they manage them – to follow up.
• A resident got security through Sky, through the contents insurance and Sky protect.
• Plaza
  • having times when bikes is being stored on the landing
  • sometimes during the day – they mysteriously appear and then disappear.
  • Suitcases turned up, but didn’t touch them as concerned as what’s in there – possibly stolen from templemeads?
  • Massive issue at BTM due to cameras being obstructed by scaffolding works.
  • Homes England own that and have money. temple security has no contact with BTP.
  • Should move the cameras.
• Plaza Car Park
  • non-residents hanging around in the evenings, eating etc.
  • Seems to be a resting place.