29 June 2010: Report of the District Partnerships Leads - Carol Fox
Fear of Crime/Arson
Last year I attended a meeting at a house in Arley. The meeting was also attended by 2 PCSOs and many residents. What was the subject? Burglaries from sheds and gardens, then the subsequent burning of those sheds.
It is so easy to just say how sorry we are to hear about such things, but what can we do, especially in a rural area, where many of the houses back onto open country side and woodland. Not as easy as urban streets with lamp posts.
But find a solution we must, because these incidents have gone onto being house burglary and ultimately the burning of a major business premises in the area.
We could argue that we have not proved that it is any one person, we can also argue that when things happen in the dead of night, who is to see the offenders, but to the people of the area who live with this fear it is not enough.
It has to be said that residents living close to this major fire have nothing but praise for the fire-fighters and police that contained it. One gentleman even said that he will never again complain about the amount of Council Tax he pays, because now he knows how valuable they all are. I add my praise to them, but my question is “what will we do now and in the future to speed up proving the guilt (or innocence) of the offender(s)?”
Within the week we arranged a meeting with all the business’s and homeowners that border the now derelict site. This was well attended and was chaired by the MP and involved police, fire officers, as well as Borough Council Officers and myself. This was the start of a series of events to offer assistance.
An urgent meeting was called at Atherstone Police station to discuss the issues and ways forward. The meeting involved the local clergy and chair of the Parish Council as well as council officers and police, and of course, yours truly.
Leaflets were created that gave useful numbers and general information on reporting crime.
A Roadshow was then quickly organised and the leaflets distributed through many doors.
It has to be said that raising the profile of the police and police authority at this event was, I hope, extremely useful. The downside being that the base used was a little tucked away from main view. Not to be deterred the PC, PCSO and I went onto the main road, armed with our leaflets and spoke to many people as they entered the shops. We then went outside the school and again offered the leaflets and any advice possible.
We were aided by beautiful sunshine that day; people were gardening and many visiting the shop before going away for the bank holiday. I wonder whether we would have had a different report on a wet, working week day? I would have to add that “one size does NOT fit all”. The road shows are a great tool, but again the difficulties of rural areas shows. There is no main shopping centre, no high street, so passing trade is slow. Arley is made up of two villages, Old Arley and New Arley and unless you are going to the post office or for a loaf of bread you would not have seen us. Delivering leaflets on the day and knocking doors to invite people was a good thing, but not if you were at work etc.
There have been subsequent fires, though (to my knowledge) only in the woodland and investigations go on, lighter nights and summer mornings leave less hours of darkness to cover our offender(s), but I long for the day that the headlines report “Caught and punished”!.
Ride-a-long
Last Friday I spent five hours with one of the PCs from Atherstone observing his daily routine. It was a quiet day with not a great deal of activity to dwell on. However, I was extremely pleased to observe him actively putting a parking ticket on a car. It is a common theme at Area Forums, parking issues and speeding issues and I can appreciate how hard it would be for the officers to ticket them all, during their working day. But how satisfying to know it was done, can be done and hopefully one motorist at least learned that they were not above the law.
Communications Centre
Having spent a Friday evening at the Communications Centre I feel I now understand much more about the problems in reporting crime.
It was a useful opportunity to ask to see certain areas on their mapping system, which were missing some key landmarks. This explains people’s frustration when describing locations. Deploying officers is easier if people know the house numbers, neighbouring street names or postcode, but in a panic situation maybe that information recall is not available.
The whole experience did mean that I could relay to the Borough Council that when they create literature for the public it should include an area on HOW to report as well as WHERE to report.
Anti-Social Behaviour
Previously I have mentioned the anti-social behaviour in Ansley Common and though it has taken some twelve months, I am pleased to report that we achieved a 2 year ASBO.
Hopefully, this will raise public confidence in the area, but it would be easier to achieve if the process could be speeded up a little.
Kingsbury
Having had reports of under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour, I did two visits to this area. The first I visited all shops with the PCSO and told them who I was. Everyone knew the PCSO and they seemed genuinely pleased to see us both. We asked if they valued the mobile CCTV that is deployed, which they do. We also asked if they would like to see a permanent fixture and they said yes, some indicating they may contribute to the cost (though not all agreed with this).
My second visit was to the Community Rooms. The PCSOs have a room at the rear of these and monitor CCTV from there. Several residents came and sat with us for a chat. It is a common problem where there are flats, that the elderly are on the ground floor and the younger people are above. They felt that CCTV by the courtyard would be beneficial and I am talking to the Borough Housing department, about a possible bid that residents have already submitted. Unsure whether that will result in the required equipment, but it may be a starting point.
PCSOs
During the past months, I have done walks with several PCSOs and I now appreciate how useful they are.
They are all well known and apart from the “plastic policeman” jibes, I think they are a valued part of our society.
Certainly the young people we have encountered have a code of their own, when talking to them, which I have to say I was not privy to as a stranger.
Parking issues and dog fouling remain high on the public’s agenda and I am often asked if the PCSOs will ever get powers to address these matters? I am unsure what extra powers I would like them to have, I do however; wish that many could see what I have seen, which is hard working, tolerant foot soldiers.
Carol Fox
North Warwickshire Borough
Police Authority District Partnership Lead
