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Policing in Briercliffe - communications update December 2019
To: The Police and Police Commissioner                          From: BPC
                                                                                        
​On behalf of Briercliffe Parish Council I am writing as advocate representing the views of people contacting us with issues which could do with remedial investigation and action on the part of The Police.
At Parish monthly meetings and through direct contact Councillors are constantly bombarded by complaints about the 101 reporting service. People are left waiting for inordinate amounts of time and simply hang up. I, other Parish Councillors, PC44 Nagina Ahmed, PCSO 7326 Mark Hill, County and Borough Councillors have advised people to report online, but a sizeable proportion of those affected by nuisance behaviour are elderly and do not have access or skills to use this facility. As a result the many and growing unacceptable occurrences instigated by large “gangs” of minors, currently happening in and around Briercliffe at night, and especially at weekends, is not accurately being reflected. As a result policing strategies become misinformed and therefore not able to be appropriately adapted to meet the needs of this increasing problem.
Over successive weekends there have been large groups of children (between 20 and 30) in one crowd terrorising people (and yes I use this word intentionally) across the village with activities ranging from: goading by shouting at them through their letterboxes which has made people fearful, worried and ultimately scared in their own homes or conversely for others more likely to take matters into their own hands ; setting fire to builders skips outside houses (the Fire Brigade were in attendance); and pulling security gates and levelling fencing erected at the Queen and Kings Mill site intended to stop access to a potentially dangerous area due to possible building structural weaknesses and the danger of falling masonry.
PC Ahkmed delivered a report of recorded reported incidents from PCSO Mark Hill at our September’s Parish Council Meeting which covered the period 16th July to 15th September: 22 nuisance logs mainly ASB, Queen Street a hotspot, Police have suspicions of those responsible and are checking CCTV; 7 personal logs including a skip fire, 3 youths have been put on Community Protection Notices following the tipping of a bin, residents asked to share CCTV images with the Police; 3 burglaries with 1 Domestic Violence related;4 thefts; 3 criminal damage; 6 vehicle crimes and number of parking issues.
Thanks to PC Ahmed’s valuable presence and delivery… also to PCSO Mark Hill for their combined official report and efforts in the field – very much appreciated.
Last month a (stolen) car was burnt out next to Parish Council garages and (possibly unrelated) the same secure garage compound was later that month targeted again resulting in doors needing fixing and tenants motorbikes being damaged… but thankfully due to an uncompromised perimeter fence and secured gate contents of the garages could not be removed.
Drivers have been experiencing children riding up and down roads and paths on bikes and older children on trial motorbikes without regard for traffic or pedestrians or indeed themselves (no protective gear). Teenage car drivers have been racing on the main road all the way through the built up areas out into the countryside beyond, often with cars making intentionally high levels of noise.
Harrison Street allotments and garages have been attacked mainly suffering vandalism, with one vintage car being “trashed.” A pensioner on Harrison Street has been subjected to a flasher at her window… The row of shops which includes the pharmacy/ takeaway and Spar has had multiple incidents of verbal abuse and some physical damage to buildings as well as cars being parked erratically – some at ninety degrees to the road/pavement not parallel to it. Also noted here is that there have been drugs sold from cars as well as at the Bus Turning Circle and out towards Thursdsen…
A few months ago we had to deal with arson of a newly built community viewing platform…Thanks are extended to PC 6215 Dan Healey who investigated and (with PC44 Nagina Ahmed) interviewed suspects, but unfortunately these inquiries could not gather enough evidence to bring the (youth) perpetrators to justice. At the time a major campaign for “restorative justice” was undertaken by Community groups, (contact was made regarding this with the Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw).
I recognise all of these instances are in themselves not the most serious “wrong-doings” the Police are being asked to deal with, but week in…week out, growing concerns are being magnified due to a regular build-up of relentless low level antisocial problems, with some comments on certain community Facebook sites alluding to sorting these problems out! Some individuals have had to install CCTV around their properties as they regularly get targeted being end houses on terraced rows…one such lady was very upset at a Parish Meeting as this constant barrage was making her feel ill in her own home and her pets terrified….
We are thankful and aware that Borough Councillors have been talking with “Supervision” to set in place revised and increased patrols and that a Policing Plan has been devised to prevent incidents, but this is inherently and effectively misinformed due to lack of reporting and therefore these new plans are not having the desired reduction in incidents.
Is there any current initiative which could be worked on to combine Police/community effective efforts in identifying culprits through, for example, a community/ Police CCTV system at key flash points such as the Spar/ Queen Street down to the mills /Bus turning circle maybe? I have been asked: Do the work patterns/ hours of PC’s and PCSO’s assigned to Briercliffe match the times most major problems occur especially at night over the weekend and during weekday nights? Are there any other joint initiatives the local community and Police can work together on?
Thank you for taking the time to digest and I hope respond with possible positive ways forward.
We await eagerly your reply which will be shared at our Parish Meetings, in our Newsletter and through our Community Notice Boards and online.
Kind regards,
Russell Hawkes.
(Chairman of Briercliffe Parish Council)
To: BPC                                     From: Inspector 205 Duncan Arthur
                                                                                   
​Mr Hawkes,
Thank you again for your e-mail in relation to Policing in the Briercliffe ward in Burnley.
In relation to one of your points, the issues around reporting via 101, I understand your concerns, and you may well already be aware of the investments made into our Control room. As you can appreciate, this is not an issue limited to Briercliffe, but one that affects residents across Lancashire, and efforts are continually being made to address it. I appreciate also that online reporting is not an option for everyone, however where possible (in non-emergency situations) it is often the quickest and most efficient method, and thank you for your own efforts to promote it.
 
In terms of your general enquiry about the Policing of Briercliffe, as you aware the structure of Local Policing changed last year. You now have a local P.C.S.O. who you refer to and clearly have a constructive and positive relationship with. The area is also, falling in the East Burnley area, covered by two Community Beat Managers (along with other wards). Additionally, all areas are covered by response officers who provide the 24/7 Policing function. As you mentioned, for example, it was one of the response officers who led the investigation into the arson at the viewing platform. These officers work in conjunction with the P.C.S.O. and the Community Beat Managers to investigate incidents as well as working towards preventative measures and problem solving.
 
We are delighted to work alongside you, the local residents, particularly in the problem solving element of our work, and we are happy to discuss further. As you mention, I have previously met with local Borough councillors to discuss issues also.
 
As you can appreciate, resources have to be deployed according to risk, and whilst such things are always subject to review, I am happy that at this time, our officers are allocated appropriately. Certainly the rotas of P.C.S.Os and Community Beat Managers are devised according to analysis of various issues over a protracted period, and at present, I consider them to be appropriate, especially given the closer relationship now between response officers and the neighbourhood teams.
 
I would add that as part of our monthly tasking process, Briercliffe has featured as one of our priority areas, in accordance with peaks in demand in the area. This has also been featured in multi-agency tasking, with numerous partner organisations working in the area.
 
You may also be aware of the new Neighbourhood Task Force, additional officers who have joined the Burnley and Rossendale area who are supporting the local officers in the delivery of problem solving, engagement and targeting activity.
 
Once again, thank you for your e-mail, and thank you for the positive comments about individual officers.
Best regards,
Duncan.
 
Inspector 205 Duncan Arthur
Burnley Police Inspector
East Division
King's Mill Chimney update (11/12/2019)
To: Pennine Lancashire Building Control
From: Russell Hawkes
                                                                                              20/11/2019
At the November Briercliffe Parish Council Meeting residents were enquiring about an update regarding the Kings Mill Chimney and affected businesses. As I didn’t have any up-to-date information I could not apprise them. Would you please be able to update me and I will see that it is delivered to those raising the questions and indeed everyone through our Parish Council website and social media pages.
 
Regarding the temporary measures set-up to stop access to the affected “fall-out” area:
  • The top barrier and “gate” across the road has been a constant weekly target by large groups of teenagers who push it over and/or move the middle section to a completely new location…It no longer prevents access for vehicles or pedestrians and has not done so now for well over a month (if not more). Cars and vans are using the area freely, and pedestrians are able to walk down to the Woodland Walk / Park and Recreation grounds – these temporary structures could do with being removed to instantly stop antisocial behaviour problems. (The area has not had controlled access for months now – so is it needed, due to safety concerns, or not? Has the situation changed…have levels of risk been revised?).
  • The scaffolding barrier fence at the bottom end (past the Mills and before the Rec) has been toppled over and actually serves little purpose as no traffic enters from below it…
 
I hope you are able to let me know a general update and get enacted decisions regarding the temporary access control structures that are simply not now doing what was initially envisaged for them, but are causing problems for local residents due to targeted  antisocial behaviour.
Kind regards,
Russell Hawkes.
Reply from: Paul Trippier - Group Building Surveyor
Pennine Lancashire Building Control
                                                                                               11/12/2019
​
Further to your recent enquiries regarding Kings Mill. I can confirm that the owner began works to make the chimney safe on the 2nd of December, at which point the site legally became an active construction site covered by the CDM regulations,

These are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). I have since been informed that the HSE have served a prohibition notice on the works, which has the practical effect of stopping work until the HSE’s requirements have been met.

Unfortunately, it is therefore not possible at this time to advise on when the danger will be removed, allowing the road and footpath to be re-opened to the public, as currently the site is outside of the legal remit of Building Control.
 
As soon as I become aware of any further developments I will endeavour to inform you, In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact me should you require clarification of the above or any further information regarding Building Controls involvement with this site.
 Regards,
Paul.​
​Next Meeting:
Full Parish Council 
Next meeting is on the
21st January 2020
​ 7:30pm at Briercliffe Community Centre
Click for Agenda and past meeting Minutes
View our
Parish Newsletters

Autumn/Winter Edition 2019 out now
click here
Waiting Lists - Pens/ Gardens/ Garages/ Containers - Info. can be found here...
Please note date of application in relation to limited availability and time frames.
Your Borough Councillors - working for Briercliffe. 
*Standen Hall Planning Decision made* (28th November)
Click to read all their reports to the Parish Council 
​​Updated November 2019 
Reporting Incidents ​to the Police

Non-emergency incidents can be reported online: 
Online Reporting
(you will get an incident number emailed back to you)
​
or ring 101 
or voicemail messages can be left at : 01282 472107
​
​Obviously ring 999 if it is an emergency.

PC44 Nagina Ahmed and PCSO 7326 Mark Hill are assigned to Briercliffe.

Update Information - PC Ahmed:
Police are aware of ongoing anti-social behaviour outside Briercliffe shops and on/around the Harrison Street Allotments. "Supervision" are aware of these issues and Patrols have been stepped up in the area. A policing patrol plan has been put into place to try and prevent any further incidents.  Anyone with any information regarding those involved in this anti-social behaviour are advised to contact Police.
Thanks again to Hill Lane Baptist Church for supporting the rebuild of our viewing platform earlier this year with a fund raiser coffee morning.
Take a look at some of their other events below...
Also coming up over Christmas at St James Church - all welcome...

A look back to Summer...
​Gardens in Bloom at the Flower Show

There was a superb bumper number of
"Briercliffe Parish Council Garden in Bloom"
competition entries this year. Thanks everyone for sharing!
Entries can be seen on our Facebook page (click the f top right and join-up)...and will feature in our next Newsletter around November.
A very successful Flower Show again!
Big thank-you to the committee: Linda Hinton, Janice Bailey, Christine Pate... and everyone else who worked so hard to organise and run this wonderful event!
Chairman's Yearly Report for 2018-2019 - click here