First PACT meeting with the Police

Attended the first police / public local meeting last night, as much as a resident for the Smawthorne area as a local councillor.

The meeting was crowded, I estimated just over one hundred. Held in the back room of the Magnet Hotel there was just enough room.

Following a brief introduction explaining the new public consultation arrangements, the inspector then went over to response to questionnaires that had been circulated. These included a list of concerns and the public were then asked to pick the three main ones.

These three were: youths hanging around in the streets, speeding cars and anti-social behaviour.

Drugs and litter did not make the top three but in the discussions that followed these two were also prominent.

I pointed out that local councillors are to hold a meeting to discuss environmental issues like litter and fly tipping at the end of November.

The inspector encouraged contributions to the debate and as a result built up a record of where the concerns were and what they were. A few commented about how good it was that the police were listening to their views.

The meeting finished with a promise that an update would be given at a future Smawthorne meeting to be held in three weeks time. In the meantime two other areas are to have similar meetings; the three meetings cover all the ward between them.

When the meeting concluded, a couple and then another lady approached me. I was pleased when they thanked me for dealing with some concerns I have helped them with.