None

To confirm and sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 February 2022 (Appendix ‘A’).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Crime and Disorder Committee on 3 February 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Coen.

Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable and non-registrable interests in items on the agenda.

None declared.

The Committee received an update on policing provided by Inspector Wyatt, the Borough Commander.

The Committee noted the five priority areas set out in the Surrey Police and Crime Plan 2021-2025 and the five borough priorities.  One of the priorities in the Surrey Police and Crime Plan 2025 was working with communities so that they felt safe.  Inspector Wyatt advised that this was done in a number of ways which included through Meet the Beat, liaison with faith groups and working with local Councillors.  He put the community first and recognised the importance of listening to members of the public and to Councillors. 

Catalytic converter theft was a regional crime and its frequency depended on the price of metals which fluctuated.  There had been 31 catalytic converter theft notified offences in Runnymede so far this year compared to over 50 in Spelthorne in the same timeframe.  This offence was on the increase and Runnymede was particularly susceptible to it as there was easy access to main arterial roads in the borough and most of the offenders did not live locally.

The five borough priorities had been drawn up by Inspector Wyatt when he arrived in post and next month he would be reviewing those priorities after he had been Borough Commander for a year.  Regarding the staffing of police in Runnymede two neighbourhood officers had been recruited in the last year.  A number of response officers had also been recruited who worked across the whole of north Surrey and were not restricted to the Runnymede area although it formed part of their work area.

The Committee referred to increased traffic within the borough caused by M25 diversions, weekend M4 closures and M3 roundabout redesign.  This led to heavy goods vehicles using residential roads in the borough rather than these main routes.  It was noted that these closures were dealt with by Highways England and a specialist road police unit within Surrey Police. Members were advised to contact Surrey Highways for information on when these closures and diversions would be taking place.  It was agreed that Inspector Wyatt would provide information for the Committee’s next meeting on particular road traffic accident hotspots within the borough. It was noted that accident locations were discussed by the police road safety team and Surrey Highways.

The Committee noted that the term ”County Lines” referred to urban gangs supplying drugs to suburban areas, as well as market and coastal towns, by using dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines”.  These gangs used children and vulnerable people to move drugs and money to these areas.  Once caught up in County Lines, exploited individuals were at risk of extreme physical and/or sexual violence, gang recriminations and trafficking.  Runnymede currently had three known County Lines operating.  The Committee noted a national percentage breakdown of the eight areas of harm resulting from County Lines produced by the National County Lines Coordination Centre.  Runnymede’s level of County Lines activity was typical for an area close to London.  Once the police  ...  view the full minutes text for item 545.