Town Council members are concerned about the apparent lack of visible of policing in Wivenhoe. We take up this issue with the Police, and others, at frequent intervals in our regular meetings with them. In June this year, we met with the new Inspector who covers Wivenhoe as well as part of the Colchester area, Inspector Tony Dale. In a constructive meeting, we made our concerns clear to him, which the Mayor has subsequently reinforced in correspondence. We have written separately also to the Chief Constable of Essex expressing our general concerns about the deterioration that has taken place since the time when we shared a police team operating out of the Brightlingsea Police Station. We know that people want to see Police on the streets to increase confidence, more done to deal with those motorists who flout the 30 mph limit in Wivenhoe and to deter vandalism and other criminal activities. We know too that our local police officer, PC Tracey Allen, is very committed to doing what she can and is supported by her superiors. We know that they have to balance the needs of policing areas of Colchester that suffer a higher crime rate than here, and where the fear of crime is very real indeed. That won't stop us arguing a case that we want to protect our community from any deterioration from the present situation. We have also proposed that the regular officers should be supplemented by the recruitment of more 'Specials'. We would like to have a couple of Specials based here as one way of restoring a greater Police presence. If you would be interested in following up on this, please contact PC Tracey Allen - tel: 01206 854324. A number of specific points arise from our various contacts with the police: 1. People should be aware that although they may not be able to see a police officer walking the streets, someone from the Police may be present here on undercover work. 2. If you need a police officer urgently, then call 999. If you see anything suspicious, then you should make the call. 3. Please do report ALL crimes, however small. This applies particularly to petty vandalism, for example to things like damage to parked cars and garden fences, which police statistics indicate is an almost non-existent problem in Wivenhoe. If they are not reported, they don't show up in statistics. Statistics drive the allocation of resources. Call our local police station at Ipswich Road, Colchester - tel: 01206 854324. You can also let the Town Council know about criminal damage, and we will pass the information on to the Police. 4. PC Tracey Allen is occasionally to be seen with a radar speed gun in various roads in Wivenhoe and will issue speeding tickets to those people caught breaking the law. 5. Motor cyclists illegally riding their bikes around Wivenhoe Woods and other places are in danger of having their bikes confiscated by the Police if caught. Action has already been taken by the Police in this regard. 6. PC Tracey Allen is now giving us details of local crimes. These are being posted on the Wivenhoe web site (click here) every few days. Perhaps you might know something that could help in solving some of these crimes. Give Tracey a call. Wivenhoe Town Council YOU CAN HELP KEEP WIVENHOE A SAFE PLACE, FREE FROM CRIME, BY BEING VIGILANT AND REPORTING INFORMATION
|