To receive an introduction from the new area commander at Thames Valley Police and to hear how community engagement will be maintained going forward.

Jon Groenen introduced himself as the new local area police commander at Thames Valley Police. He had been in position for two months already and we would remain for another two months before a new commander would take over in January 2023. Dan Bennet was the new inspector for the geographical neighbourhood teams, he was tasked with improving the way the police communicated with the local community. The Thames Valley alert system was not running to the standard that was seen under Jeff Pick, work was being done with an analyst to try and provide the same detail on crime stats. A priority for Jon Groenen was for the police to improve the way it engaged, he had recently met with the Cabinet Member for Public Protection and the Leader of the Council. Dan Bennet was reviewing the situation to ensure that the right officers were attending the right meetings.

Councillor Baldwin commented on the use of nitrous oxide, he felt that the police needed to target those who were oversupplying the market and supplying repeat customers.

Jon Groenen said that there were no police powers on possession of nitrous oxide, the police were working in partnership with the council to collate any evidence which could be needed and reviewing the possibility of a PSPO being required.

Councillor Baldwin said that the sales records of the two main suppliers needed to be reviewed by the police, it was the organisations who were profiting which needed to be prosecuted.

Jon Groenen said that it needed to be considered along with other priorities for the police, the police did not have the resources at a national level to look into it.

Councillor G Jones made reference to the Thames Valley neighbourhood newsletter, residential burglary had increased by 11%, business burglary by 3%, personal robbery by 33%, violence and injury up 10%, sexual offences up 31%, drug tracking down 41%, theft of vehicle up 49% and theft from vehicle up 10%. He was surprised and concerned about the significant increase in all types of crime.

Jon Groenen said it was a national issue and it was a concern that crime had increased. However, there had been an increase in positive outcomes from offences that had been committed.

Councillor Singh said that he was pleased to hear that the alerts system would be improved, he had been disappointed to see Jeff Pick leave. Councillor Singh was concerned about anti-social behaviour in the town centre, there had been a number of bike thefts at the train station and the two top levels of the Broadway car park had been closed due to recent incidents. He asked what the level of policing was at weekends and what was being done to tackle some of the anti-social behaviour issues.

Jon Groenen said that the police were aware of a number of new night time economy venues which had opened in the town centre, there would be a review of whether policing needed to return to the town centre. If it was decided that there needed to be a night time resource in Maidenhead, this would be found from other areas which did not have a night time economy.

ACTION – Jon Groenen to provide an update on the Broadway car park and plans to tackle bike theft at the train station after the meeting.

Robyn Bunyan, Maidenhead Town Manager, said that she attended the night time economy briefing, which meet on a weekly basis. Any issues in Maidenhead were being picked up effectively and there was also a strong Pub Watch presence.

Councillor Singh asked if there was a community warden presence in the town centre at weekends.

Robyn Bunyan said that she was unaware of whether there was a community warden presence, there were Street Angels in Windsor and there was a plan for this to be rolled out in Maidenhead too.

Councillor Baldwin confirmed that the street angels were active in Maidenhead.