Continued presence of drug dealing, drug use and the subsequent Anti-Social Behaviour around North 9th and 10th Street

The NHPT are conducting more hi-visibility patrols in the area in order to prevent and detect crime, whilst gathering intelligence on any person involved and using Stop and Search powers where applicable. We have also been working with Milton Keynes City Council and SERCO to assist in clearing up any remnants of drug use that may cause alarm or harm to the public i.e. needles and making the communal areas of the residential flats affected more hospitable and safer. NHPT have also been working with local residents and housing associations, offering crime prevention advice and reassurance to best protect the community whilst also working with other partner agencies to make an necessary safeguarding arrangements, whether this be a member of the community directly or indirectly affected by the issue or a drug user in need of intervention. Due to the above we have seen a decrease in reports of drug use and dealing but will continue to monitor and take action if necessary.

Anti-Social Behaviour linked to the homeless community using Sainsbury’s underground carpark on Witan Gate

NHPT have received a number of reports, either directly from staff at Sainsbury’s or from the customers attending the supermarket, that there are regularly homeless people sleeping in the underground carpark and that they are causing a nuisance to staff and customers alike due to the likes of begging, sleeping in front of the doors and in the middle of the walkways and becoming verbally abusive towards staff when asked to move on. There is also the issue of the fire escape stairwell being cluttered with belongings and rubbish left by homeless people which causes a fire escape hazard and the fact that this area is being used to inject drugs, urinate and defecate, which there is evidence of such as uncapped needles and human faeces. NHPT are regularly patrolling the area and moving on any homeless person in the area and have been working with the store manager and Sainsbury’s Head Office to work towards getting the stairwell completely cleared up. The second level of the underground carpark will also be closed to the public overnight and any person caught using the area for ASB will be deal with robustly. This is an ongoing issue for which we are undertaking a lot of joint organisational working with Sainsbury’s and Milton Keynes City Council but we hope to have a positive resolution in the coming months.

Increase in incidents of violence and disorder around CMK Train Station and the old bus station linked to street drinking

Due to number of recent incidents, the NHPT have increased hi-visibility patrols in the area and for the last 2 or 3 months have consistently targeted the above locations to deal with any incidents and offenders. We have primarily been dealing with the individuals themselves to tackle this issue head on via the issuing of Community Protection Warnings/Notices, enforcing the Public Spaces Protection Order in relation to open containers of alcohol and dealing with any criminal offences robustly, whilst also working with residents, management companies, Milton Keynes City Council and other partner agencies to safeguard any individuals and provide any support where necessary in order to prevent reoffending or repeat behaviour.