Agenda item

Presentation from the City of London Police.

This Item was taken after Item 7 to facilitate discussion on the Late Night Levy.

The Committee heard a presentation from the City of London Police on the methods employed and obstacles encountered in tackling violence in the City. Members watched a video depicting a variety of incidents involving violent crime.

The City of London Police reported that violent crime had until recently been on a downward trend (Members were reminded that the small numbers involved could have a large impact on the percentages.) The late night economy in the City had changed drastically since the 1980’s and the Police had been slow to channel the necessary resources in line with this increase in activity.  This had now been resolved and the introduction of the Late Night Levy had allowed for a further increase in resources. However it was felt that more needed to be done. The following areas of discussion arose:

-       The link between promoted events and violent crime. Members discussed if restricting promoted events would lead to a reduction in crime levels, or if extra conditions could be added to venues who wished to host promoted events as a subsidiary to their main business. A condition for a better quality if CCTV was given as an example. The Deputy Chairman commented that a blanket condition could be unfair to venues and that the Police should attend licensing hearings for venues seeking to hold promoted events to make the case for extra conditions.

-       The possibility of increasing parking enforcement during the night to prevent weapons being easily accessible to those attending events.  It was reported that an incentive to attend a promoted event was the opportunity to “show off” a new vehicle, and it was felt that reputational damage could be inflicted if those vehicles were subject to being towed. It was recognised that this posed a danger to parking officers who had experienced intimidation on similar controls.  The Director of Port Health and Public Protection confirmed that the issue had been raised at a meeting of the Safer City Partnership, and that he was progressing an action to investigate with the Department of Built Environment. The Deputy Chairman commented that parking restrictions were rarely applicable after 7:00pm, so questioned the effectiveness of extra enforcement. It was also noted that weapons were often hidden in street furniture close to the venue.

It was asked that the City of London Police make the Committee aware of when violence had taken place within a venue at a promoted event.