Date of Next Meeting.
WED 28th March 2007
@ St Vincent's Social centre. 7:00 - 9:00

OPEN LETTER TO ALL

NAME
ADDRESS
Houghton Regis
Bedfordshire

Tel: 01582 618279
Email: chair@parksidevoice.org.uk

Parkside Stakeholder Policing

It is a partnership between the Parkside community and Bedfordshire Police. The idea of stakeholder policing is to help local people to address the issues that mean the most to the community and make positive changes.

Long Term Goals.

To improve and maintain a good relationship between Bedfordshire Police and the residents of Parkside.

To empower you, the residents of Parkside to improve YOUR community.

To increase pride in being a resident of Parkside.

To reduce incidents of crime, drugs and alcohol misuse, vandalisum and antisocial behaviour in Parkside.

Following a public meeting on 3rd October 2005 a working group will be set up to represent the people of Parkside. The working group will meet regularly to discus the issues they feel relevant.

This will involve the group in understanding police constraints and procedures, whilst working on your issues. This will be a learning process for both parties.

These negotiations will lead to a Local Service Agreement signed by the chairperson or representative of the group and Divisional Commander of Bedfordshire Police. This will allow the people of Parkside to hold the police to account for the actions laid out in the agreement.

This meeting has happened see the "Minutes of the first meeting"

This meeting has happened. See the "Minutes of the first meeting"

Tel 01582 878143, 01234 838771 ext 143
Email- robert@bedsrcc.org.uk
Or info@parksidevoice.org.uk

PRESENT

Sgt Peter Thomas - Bedfordshire Police (PT)
Bob Bridle - BRCC Field Officer (Stakeholder Policing) (BB)
22 Residents of Parkside

1. Apologies for Absence

PC Rick Goss - Bedfordshire Police (Beat Manger)

2. Introduction

Peter Thomas and Bob Bridle welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for supporting the concept of Stakeholder Policing. They then outlined the purpose of the initiative. This was for the police and the residents of Parkside to work together to achieve a level and type of policing on the estate that would make residents feel that it was a safer community and a sought after place to live. This would be done by the police gaining an understanding of the issues that were important to the Action Group as representatives of Parkside residents. At the same time the Action group would be given information about policing methods and constraints that would help them to understand how the police could work to address their issues. The group would work together to design an action plan to meet everyone's needs as much as possible. They would then work towards the signing of a written agreement on the level of policing for the estate and the feedback that both the police and the community would expect.

This way of working had been trialled in Downside, Dunstable and Farley Hill, Luton over the past eighteen months. In both locations residents were experiencing more confidence and understanding of the police and a better quality of life.

3. Issues Raised at the Public Meeting on 3 October 2005

It was agreed that the group would examine the issues raised at the public meeting and identify the location if incidence and their importance and possible solutions.

Vehicle Related

(i) Under Age and Uninsured Drivers
Mini motorbikes were considered a constant nuisance. There were also problems with full size motorbikes. Quad bikes were a particular issue in the area of Dolphin Drive. People were disturbed by the noise made by these bikes and there was a fear of people being hurt as they were often ridden on footways and prohibited areas.

(ii) Speeding
Speeding traffic was a problem in Sundon Road and Parkside Drive. PT explained that a possible measure would be the use of portable speed cameras. When asked if this would catch uninsured drivers he explained that that it was possible to use a mobile unit which recognised number plates, this would combat both concerns.

(iii) Inconsiderate Parking
People were parking on double yellow lines on Dolphin Drive

(iv) Road Safety
It was agreed that a traffic light crossing was required on Parkside Drive near Johnson Court; the bank on the side of the road restricted vision. It was also felt that a Pelican crossing was needed on Parkside Drive near Hawthornes Lower School. There was strong feeling that the County Council was waiting for an incident to happen before they would act.

(v) Other Hazards
There was a broken garage door in Brentwood Road which was causing a hazard. There was a dumped vehicle in the same location. There was also a report of cars being vandalised in Johnson Court. Cars were able to access the park from Fensome Drive. They were thought to be a danger which could be rectified through the use of bollards or restrictions.

Nuisance Youths

Problems identified in relation to young people were:

Football on Trident Drive, Anvil Gardens (on roofs), Dolphin Drive, Manning Court and Johnson Court.
Bikes on Trident Drive, where green areas were dug up to make jumps
General concern about the way pedal cycles were ridden which could be addressed through cycling proficiency lessons
Intimidating youths on Johnson Court
There was general concern about both youths and adults being loud and anti-social. There were complaints of rudeness when young people were asked to move on and a feeling that parents were not taking responsibility for their children's behaviour
Garages were being ruined by young people and were highlighted as a potential safety problem.

Drugs

Drug use was mentioned in relation to young people. The police were aware of a known drug user at a location in Dolphin Drive with young people regularly calling at the house. The group asked for feedback from the police on actions being taken. It was thought that it was possible that some garages were being used as drug dens, particularly in Trident Drive.

General Comments

PCSOs were regularly seen sitting in their car on Neptune Square, it was felt that they should be walking round the estate making themselves more visible to the public
Trident Drive was thought to be a hot spot although others pointed out that not all the problems on Parkside were on Trident Drive
It was mentioned that there was generally low confidence in policing in the area. PT and BB thought that the Stakeholder initiative was a great opportunity to address this
Residents offered to video youths as a positive step in gaining information in order to take action
A member of the group pointed out that this meeting was the first step towards unity in the neighbourhood.

4. Agreed actions to be taken before next Meeting

Speeding and road safety was brought up as an issue, PT spoke about various measures to combat speeding and uninsured drivers. PT promised to look at the various measures to provide a feasible and effective method to combat these issues.

PT informed the group that the police liked to work on information led actions. He will find out what information is required for the police to be able to act on the issues on drug houses, uninsured and unlicensed driving.

5. Date of Next Meeting

It was agreed that meetings should be held monthly. The date of the next meeting was provisionally set for 23rd November at 7.00pm at Parkside Baptist Church. BB to confirm with the group once the Church has been confirmed.

4. Other Issues
Feedback - It was raised that the public rarely hear of people being prosecuted for crimes they have committed, it was felt this would help reduce the fear of crime. Parkside Voice representative offered the local newsletter for a method of reporting. Some care will have to be taken as to what details are printed, but agreed this was a popular idea.

BB also mentioned the possibility of setting up a Police surgery or mobile police station to assist in creating a better line of communication between residents and the Police.

Chairperson
BB asked the group if anyone was prepared to put him or herself forward, explained what the role would entail. This issue will be taken up in the New Year.

The formal part of the meeting then ended and as agreed the group took some time to stay and socialised

5. Date of Next Meeting

It was decided that St Vincent's Social centre is a preferred venue, therefore the next meeting will be held there on Wednesday 25th January 2006.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all.

4. Other Issues
Brendan Murray - Home-watch
BM provided an overview as to what home watch consists of and what it takes to set up. He stressed the idea of the scheme is for people to look out for one another providing some support in case of problems. The scheme cost's next to nothing and take minimum of time, but provides a good opportunity for people to feel safer within the communities they live.

He provided the group with information and his contact details, and invited any interested parties to form small groups with their neighbours and contact him if they were interested.

Tony Cootes - Chair of Downside Focus Group
At the request of the group TC agreed to attend the meeting and provide some information on how the scheme worked in Downside. Launched from a public meeting in Oct 04 and initially ran successfully. A group of 10-12 people regularly met to discuss issues faced on the estate such as speeding, ASB, drinking issues, police visibility and parking issues.

Most of the above complaints have been dealt with successfully with incidents of ASB in the centre of the estate dropping to almost zero. However at present the group is exercising their right to hold the police accountable for the actions agreed. The problems come from the beat managers absence from work due to illness. A meeting has been arranged with Insp Barrett to correct these issues.

Tony informed the group that the scheme has been extremely successful whilst the beat manager was working with them, however offered some advice that stakeholder policing can 'slip off the pace' very quickly if not enough effort put in by either party.

Chairperson
BB informed the group that one candidate is interested in becoming chairperson. It was asked that he/she stood up and speak briefly to the group. Jessica Murray introduced herself and as Chair of Tenants and Residents Association, she has experience with current issues of Parkside and of what being a chairperson entailed. All eight members of the group present agreed that Jessica become chairperson.

5. Date of Next Meeting

No fixed date has been set for the next meeting as we are awaiting information as to when a new beat manager will start. BB will inform the group once a meeting date has been confirmed.

As you are all residents of the area, I would be very surprised if there is anyone who has not seen or been disturbed by many of our local young people out riding their Mini Moto's or Go Peds. Some of you reading this may even have bought one for your children.

They seem to be under the impression that it is all right to ride them on Roads, Pavements and Public Parks.

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the situation.

As far as the law is concerned, these vehicles are not toys, they are classed as vehicles and all the laws of the road apply. Because of their construction, many of these vehicles would not be able to pass the stringent requirements of vehicle type approval and cannot be registered, taxed or insured, which would enable them to be used on the public highway. The rider must be over 16, have a licence, be insured, wear a crash helmet and obey normal traffic laws.

These vehicles can only be used on private land, and you must have the permission of the landowner in order to legally ride the vehicle. These days there are very few landowners who will give permission for the land to be used for this purpose, because they also have to be insured should any rider injure themselves whilst on the land, which is very expensive. Another prohibitive expense that discourages landowners from allowing their land to be used is that they would also have to provide medical cover whilst the land is being used.

Under Sec 59 of the Police Reform Act the Police have the power to confiscate these vehicles if they are being ridden irresponsibly in a public area. Officers have tried giving fines and warnings out before resorting to confiscating these vehicles. Once these vehicles have been confiscated the owners have 28 days to reclaim them, there is of course a charge for storage that has to settled prior to vehicle being returned to the owner. Should the vehicle not be claimed within the 28 days then the vehicle is crushed.

Written by PC Graham Arnold