I attended last night’s Acocks Green South Police Tasking meeting at Lakey Lane Primary School. As usual there was a good attendance from local residents and a variety of topics, local and general were covered. An update was given on the previous priorities (from the December meeting, as the January meeting was cancelled due to the snow) was given:

1) Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) at the top of Edenbridge Road and Lakefield Close: Action has been taken with one youth who lives in the maisonettes in this section of Edenbridge road identified. He has been interviewed by the Police and Housing have issued first stage warnings for breach of tenancy against his parents. Other youths have also been identified and referred to the Birmingham Anti Social Behaviour Unit (BASBU) with first stage warning letters sent to all. These actions have led to a significant decline in ASB in the area but a close watch on the area will be maintained for the time being.

2) Parking issues around Lakey Lane School: Officers have partrolled the area and warned parents who have broken traffic regulations. Where these warnings have not been heeded fixed penalties tickets have been issued. In addition, following an idea from a member of the public a “Alcohol Restriction Zone” notice has been bought and put up in the alleyway between Stonehaven Grove and Lakey Lane. This appears to have reduced the drink related ASB in the alleyway.

Priorities for the coming month were set as:

1) Edenbridge Road / Lakefield Close: carried forward from last month as above

2) Tibland Road: Following a recurrance of the previous sporadic ASB in this area, letters will be sent by the Council’s Housing Department setting out tenant’s obligations to keep their children under control. They will be delivered by the Police and will hopefully nip the problem in the bud before it gets any worse.

3) Northanger Road: While the problem of ASB in the area is better than before sporadic problems continue especially around the Greenwood Avenue end of Northanger Road. Attention will be paid to the area by the Police in addition to ongoing work by the Council’s Housing Department to keep the problem under control.

The good news is that crime has continued to fall in the area, with 30 fewer crimes in the period Jan 1 to 29 2010 than the same period a year ago. Within these figures the number of burglaries from homes fell from 18 to 8. However there are ongoing reports of bogus callers in the area so please keep alert to the threat these people are to the elderly and report any suspicious people to the Police.