Report of community meeting with local police

from Cllr Lesley Jones

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

The regular 6 weekly Police Ward meeting took place last Tuesday in the Town Hall Committee room, a change of location which worked well. A small increased number of residents were present and they were able to talk to Inspector Derrick Oldham who also came along to meet residents and to hear what they had to say.

The meeting opened with a report on the crime figures over the previous 6 weeks. Sergeant Chris Norbury was able to report that once again, crime in the area remains extremely low, with only 30 crimes reported over the 42 day period which is a slight reduction over the previous period.

There were 4 burglary reports and an arrest has been made in respect of one of these, with stolen property recovered in the case of another. An arrest has been made following a report of a stolen vehicle which was recovered.

There were 6 reports of criminal damage and arrests were made in respect of 2 of these with a further two arrests made following reported assaults/fights

Giving an update on the priorities set for the previous 6 weeks, Sergeant Norbury reported that in respect of the patrols in the town centre to reduce anti social behaviour, there had been 2 arrests made together with a number of alcohol seizures. In addition 2 well known youths were stopped and searched and issued with cannabis warnings. Mounted officers joined the local police on the 7th and 8th May in order to help raise the profile of policing in the town centre.

Work is ongoing around the problems with anti social behaviour and off road motorcycling at Dodnaze and Old Town. PC Martin Langan attended a community meeting in Old Town where residents were able to discuss their concerns. In addition he has carried out a leaflet drop around the village. Two Section 59 warnings have been issued which means that the Police now have the power to seize the vehicle should they be seen or reported again. A multi agency meeting has been arranged for early June in order to agree and carry out a joint approach in dealing with the problem.

The regional road policing team has again been in the Upper Calder Valley and helped local officers to deal with traffic offences. As a result two motorists have been charged with drink driving offences.

Officers from the Upper Valley Neighbourhood Police team deployed extra high visibility foot patrols over the Easter school holidays in Luddenden Foot, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. A number of arrests for various offences were made as a result. A high profile policing weekend took place over the Easter weekend. Large amounts of alcohol was taken from both youths and adults in the parks and town centres of Hebden Bridge and Todmorden and a number of youths seen engaging in anti social behaviour were taken home and spoken to in front of their parents.

The meeting moved on to talk about some reported problems with youths climbing on the roof at Mytholmroyd Community Centre, and damage seen to an unoccupied narrow boat on the canal was flagged up. Some graffiti has appeared whch needs remova.l Unfortunately the CCTV system has been out of order for a couple of weeks but the matter will be followed up with Calderdale to get the repair done as soon as possible.

The problems with excess speed through Hebden Bridge town centre was again raised and discussed and it was confirmed that the regional road teams will continue to be brought in to assist with policing this. It is hoped that the Street Angels scheme will be able to start on Friday the 12th June once the CRB checks are through. A couple of residents were able to talk confidentially on worries personal to themselves and the meeting wound up with agreement of the following priorities for the next 6 weeks.

Positive action being taken following several reports of drug dealing in and around the town centre. Continuation of high profile policing operations in the town centre, car parks and Calder Holmes Park.

Management of some anti social behaviour activities at Fairfield.
The next meeting is to be held again in the Town Hall committee room at 6:30 pm on Tuesday the 23rd June. In addition the next Area Community Forum, hosted by Calderdale MBC, is taking place on Thursday the 18th of June at Riverside Junior School. More details will be given nearer the date. Attendance at both meetings is encouraged.

See also:

Hebweb News: community meeting with local police (April 09)

HB neighbourhood police page

Hebweb News: Sharp fall in Hebden Bridge crime rate (Jan 09)