Published 17th November, 1994. Crime in Mapperley Park & Beechwood
Arnold Police have released crime figures reported for Mapperley Park during the first nine months of this year.
The figures show that residents registered at Beechwood were arrested 122 times for 160 offences. The numbers of residents arrested was 43.
591 crimes
Throughout the vast majority of Mapperley Park in the Arnold Division, there were 591 reported crimes of which 79 were detected and 27 of the detected crimes were attributed to residents of Beechwood.
The crime was typically car theft and burglary and were committed towards the Mansfield Road end of the area.
Bill Bradbury has used the figures to alarm people and suggest complacency amongst Social Services.
Interpretation
One interpretation of the detection figures would suggest that residents of Beechwood are responsible for high levels of crime in the area.
But because the police liaison with the home is so strong and residents are regularly interviewed, the Police think that the vast majority of crime committed by Beechwood residents has been detected.
Police opinion
Indeed, senior officers suggest to me that Beechwood is not one of their major problems.
This doesn't tie in with the impression local victims of crime are left with by visiting Police officers and I have said so.
Tim Bell
Tim Bell, chair of Social Services, says -
"The problems that lead to young people offending this way stem from the community which they come from, and they will be resolved in the community as well.
"The superficially attractive idea that removing young people in significant numbers from circulation will solve anything very much is something we would challenge from our experience.
"There needs to be an intermediate stage between the breakdown of the family situation or fostering placement, and locking young people away.
"Beechwood is part of a range of facilities to meet the range of individual needs."
The real problem
Indeed, if over 95% of crime in Mapperley Park is not down to Beechwood, the Close Beechwood Cttee. leaflets and statements of blaming the home for local fear and insecurity are irresponsible.
John Heppell
As John Heppell has said to the Cttee.,
"There is no doubt that issues of unemployment, poverty and deprivation are inextricable from those of crime, delinquency and social disjunction.
"The problems [the Cttee.] describe[s] are on a national scale, and at a national level, I and my colleagues continually oppose the policies which have contributed to the state of affairs over the last 15 years."
235/237 Porchester Road
This converted double semi situated behind Boyce Gardens is now home to 7 physically and mentally handicapped people.
Converted at a cost of £250,000, it was opened by John Heppell on 11th November.
The residents used to live at Highbury hospital.
Wells Road Centre
This will start taking patients soon.
This will mean Mapperley Hospital can close before the end of the year.
New development plans
Nottingham Healthcare Trust are changing some of their proposals for the remaining grounds.
They now want a unit below the new centre.
The half of the old hospital that might have been used as an O.A.P. home or hall of residence is now suggested for demolition and replacement with more new housing.
Wells Road Traffic Calming
County officers have responded to requests from parents and teachers of Walter Halls school by refining the design.
New refuge
A new refuge has been installed on Woodborough Road at the junction with Ransom Road following requests from members of the public.
Clifton Bridge
The road works have caused large inconvenience.
But it has also highlighted how many cars travelling towards the city centre only carry one passenger.
I thinks it's a great shame that the extra lanes being put on are not bus lanes.
We need to give buses a distinct advantage to make them much more attractive to the public.
Prostitution
Cllr. Riasat and I are to leaflet the Mapperley Road area to gauge support for the introduction of signs warning would-be punters of high Police surveillance.
Mapperley Hall
The City Council's Planning Cttee. has approved Severn Trent's planning application for converting the Hall and former Ministry block to flats; and a terrace of housing overlooking and protecting the old garden in front of the hall.
Social Services
The Tory Minister has highlighted that problems still exist in our child protection services.
This isn't for lack of action at County Hall.
Since the Leanne White inquiry, we have -
- launched our own investigation,
- approved the resulting internal report recommending 88 actions;
- changed the Chair of Social Services;
- persuaded the Director to find another post;
- delayed the appointment of a new director to widen the field of candidates;
- filled many vacant posts and
- announced more posts in the City East District to encourage staff to stay or move into this most difficult district.
There must be no complacency, but I find it a bit rich to hear of this report when the Social Services Inspectorate gave our Child Protection Services a clean bill of health only weeks before Leanne White's death.
Acorn Initiative
The Labour Group is launching "the acorn initiative" to give the County Council new energy and direction in a climate of continual cutting of services.
Three areas are being targeted for new ideas -
- nursery education;
- youth work;
- community safety.
Magistrate's Courts
This major project is over-running.
Unemployment
685 in Mapperley ward (17.3%, September '94).
Cases
167 in 1994.
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