It was generally acknowledged that many factors contribute to the local problems we face, not least of those being the drastic reduction in the numbers of police posts (23,000 officers have lost their jobs in recent years) coupled with devastating central government cuts to local authority, probation service and criminal justice system budgets. All have had a severely detrimental impact on how the authorities are able to deliver local services in the way we’re entitled to expect. However residents feel that the police could do more by working with our communities to provide more effective policing and reassurance to our residents and businesses.
Given the direct impact of the factors mentioned above on community safety I suggested that we write to the police inspector with responsibility for our area, and also to the office of the Police, Crime and Victims Commissioner for Durham to set out our concerns and invite them to a meeting of the Blackhall PACT to listen to our ideas and work together towards a workable solution.
The letter is reproduced below in full:
Good morning Inspector Kay and Chief Inspector Blakelock,
I write to you following a number of serious crime and anti-social behaviour incidents in Blackhall Colliery and a subsequent meeting of the Blackhall PACT held yesterday evening.
The PACT meeting held last night in the Blackhall Resource Centre was very well attended by residents and business owners increasingly frustrated by the seemingly endless incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour in the village, culminating in a series of burglaries and break-ins at a number of business addresses last Friday evening (17 January).
The main concerns expressed by residents last night were focused on the perceived failure of the police to respond to calls for assistance during the burglary spree on Friday evening despite initial phone calls to the police office from around 9pm and continuing until the first reported response at 1am the next day. Frustrations were exacerbated by a failure of the police to communicate effectively with the community afterwards.
Residents fully understand the impact of the separate factors that combine and contribute to the problems we face as a community, not least the drastic reduction in police numbers coupled with deep cuts to local authority, probation service and criminal justice system budgets during the past ten years of government austerity. However we feel that there are measures that the police could consider to improve crime reduction initiatives and community safety in our neighbourhoods. These include a sharper focus on local priorities, an increased and visible police presence on the streets and improved communication between the police and the community.
While PACT meetings tend to be used as a lighting rod for residents to air their frustrations most invariably come away without any real sense of achievement or reassurance from the police that things will improve. There is no intended criticism of the PCs and PCSOs who attend the PACT meetings and deal with residents’ concerns to the best of their abilities, often under tense conditions. We also acknowledge that the frustrations of the public are shared by the police officers themselves who are limited in their ability to influence operational policing matters in our communities.
In order to address these concerns I would be grateful if you would agree to attend the next scheduled PACT meeting to discuss first-hand with residents and businesses the methods the police might adopt to tackle rising crime, provide reassurance to our residents and effect real change in our communities.
I have copied into this email the office of the Durham Police Crime and Victims Commissioner and the Safe Durham Partnership (as the Community Safety Partnership for Durham) for information and comment. The invitation to attend the Blackhall PACT meeting as requested above is extended to both organisations.
I look forward to your response.
Regards,
Rob.
Cllr Rob Crute
Blackhall Division
Durham County Council
