Neighbourhood Policing Team, Panel Meeting, Tuesday 11th January 2011
The meeting was well represented by local Councillors, Police, Council staff, Housing Association staff and members of the public. It was good to see so many attending on such a bitterly cold night. The Baptist Church made us very welcome and provided facilities for a PowerPoint presentation and a public address system ( sadly the microphone remained switched off, despite representations from several deaf people in the audience ... ) writes Morag Irving.
Our new Neighbourhood Policing Team Leader Sgt. Simon Goldsmith was introduced and welcomed. Simon replaces Sgt Coulson. (Luke Couson was however warmly thanked by the meeting for his service to the community and he is now pounding the Northern Beat of Werrington, Paston and environs. As a bonus he also gets the rural beats of Glinton, Eye and Thorney!)
Sgt Goldsmith has previously worked the Ortons and quickly demonstrated to the meeting that he is a highly experienced Neighbourhood Policing specialist.
For many years Sgt. Goldsmith was a traffic officer, he stated that his approach is very much a ‘Back to Basics’ ethos. Which will be very unwelcome news for any 'bad lads and lasses' on our patch, as we can expect a much increased number of warrants being executed, fines levied, premises visited and offenders locked up. Truly 'Back to basics'!
Instilling in his team 'no nonsense enhanced police skills' is his immediate task. Sgt Goldsmith, although only in post for a week is already in the process of bringing his team up to speed on what he expects from them, instilling a new culture of working on initative, detection, police skills and intuition rather than following standard edicts or generic instruction. A presentation was then given by Matthew Lee (Deputy Leader PCC, Councillor, Member of the Police Authority).
The main points of the presentation were:-
The Constabulary has a budget of £131.4 million for 2011/12. (This equates to £171 per person).
No increase in the portion of your Council Tax payable which goes to Policing has been made. This amounts to an annual loss of £3.5 million, with costs increasing by 2.5million.
115 support staff jobs have been made redundant from Cambridgeshire Constabulary. None of these are Police Officers who are employed as servants of the Crown and cannot be made redundant, hence the reductions have been made from support and other civilian staff.
Morag queried if this would have an effect on Neighbourhood Policing and was assured no loss had been made to our sector.
Matthew Lee went on to explain the problems in our area, where it is believed we have a much higher than officially recorded population. The hope is the next census will reflect this and lead to an increase by central Government in the Police budget.
The good news from the meeting is that our area is now considered to be very quiet with very few Police concerns. This can be put down to the local community taking an active part in supporting the actions of Police.
Cycle crime however is up with 25 reported crimes in our sector. Schools are to be given information and work by Officers is being carried out to educate cycle owners.
Residents expressed concern re speeding around Oakdale Avenue and the school. Volunteers are to be trained in the use of hand held laser detection speed cameras, the results of which will result in police and PCC follow up with the offending drivers concerned (if you would like to volunteer please let us know).
Police stated that parking and obstruction problems in Hampton continue to be an issue and are being addressed.
Concern was raised at the continuing number of speeding incidents especially connected with school and rat runs. Incidents of illegal parking or waiting on chevrons or zig zags outside schools.
News was given that a specialist £100,000 instant number plate recognition camera vehicle had been commissioned, this will automatically detect and issue parking fines, and document speeding, road tax and associated motor insurance offences. The meeting was reminded that the local residental speed limit is 20 mph.
Priorities for the next period have been set and are given as :
ASB (anti-social behaviour) in and around Stewartby Avenue, HamptonASB (anti-social behaviour) in Fellowes Gardens
ASB (anti-social behaviour) in The Dell
Officers pointed out that policing levels in Park Farm and Stanground generally would be maintained at an appropriate level although reported crimes due to greater community involvement are at a lower level than before.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 5th April at the Infant School, Brewster Avenue, Woodston. All are welcome.
** A profile of Sgt. Simon Goldsmith will be published here at a later date
(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581
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