Surbiton should be safe

 

Summary report of the Public Meeting on Crime and Anti-social Behaviour in Surbiton, hosted by Helen Whately on 2nd October

 

Fifty residents and representatives from local businesses attended the meeting.  Sgt Manns from St. Marks Safer Neighbourhood Team joined Helen to answer questions. Managers from the YMCA were present in the audience and took some questions. Conservative cllrs Nick Kilby and Paul Johnson and Lib Dem Cllr Barry O'Mahoney also attended.

 

Residents described experiencing increased crime and antisocial behaviour in the town centre, including drug taking and dealing, abuse from groups on pavement, hassle from beggars and chuggers, 'missiles' such as fire extinguishers falling from the windows of the YMCA and occasional fights.

 

There was discussion about the YMCA , particularly the extent to which its residents are to blame, and whether it attracts 'the wrong sort of people'. The managers confirmed that they have around 100 homeless residents, including up to 8 on probation but no one on bail. They 'vet' potential residents and evict troublemakers, but cannot prevent some incidents (a television being thrown out of the window was one example).

 

There was general agreement that, though a share of the problems are connected with the YMCA, it should certainly not be blamed for all crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. A specific YMCA issue which needs to be tackled is the behaviour of people gathered on the pavement at its entrance - worse since the smoking-ban as they have no smoking area.

 

The Safer Neighbourhood Team confirmed that they have an office at the YMCA, but they are not there 24-7, and this is not an open office. The premises are not suitable for allowing the public to drop in, and they do not have sufficient resource to man the office (or if they did, they would be a less visible presence in the area). Their work was praised and Sgt Manns spoke about a number of intiatives in progress to tackle crime and safety in the town centre, including a Lighting Audit. The option of alcohol free zones was also raised, but other zones in the area e.g., Fairfield, have been very expensive to implement. Further investigation of this is required.

 

The issues raised are to be discussed at a follow-up meeting involving the SNT and the YMCA.

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