Issue - meetings

To allow members to put any relevant questions to the Borough Commander.

The Committee had the opportunity to put their questions to the Borough Commander, Inspector Walton.

Some of the concerns raised by members included:

1.    Increase in cannabis usage

2.    Increase in shoplifting, especially in the period leading up to Christmas

3.    The Stanwell Hotel

The Committee were advised that there were challenges around the use of cannabis and that the Police focused on stop and search. There was an agreement in place between the Police and the Community Safety Team that meant that the Community Safety Team would deal with reports of any smells of cannabis being detected. There had been a number of reports concerning the smell of cannabis coming from the Stanwell Hotel and that these had been dealt with in the same way they would deal with any other residential property being reported.

Inspector Walton advised that during the pre-christmas period patrols would be increased within the town centres such as Staines, Sunbury Cross and Ashford to act as a deterrent against any shoplifters.

The Committee were advised that the Police had no control over who was housed within the Stanwell Hotel as that was the decision of the Home Office. He did state that regular meetings were held between the Police, the hotel management and ministers representing the government along with residents living in the surrounding area, to listen to concerns that the residents may have.