Grantham Association Spring Meeting

GRANTHAM & DISTRICT

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

SPRING MEETING

27^th APRIL 2013

Present: Helen Bill (Chair), Ruth Freeman (Secretary) Brenda Gilman, Steve Bill,

Debbie Abrahms (Committee) & 28 others.

Guests: Chief Inspector Mark Housley, PCSO Jay Nielander.

• Apologies Sally Picker (CRO), Sandra Watson (Committee), & 6 others

• Helen opened the meeting by welcoming all attendees, introduced Chief Inspector Mark Housley and thanked him for attending.

• Junior Eyes project – Chair
  Helen gave an update on this project. The launch & work done with pupils at Colsterworth Primary was deemed to be a success. Respect, responsibility & caring about the Community, e-safety, personal safety are some of the subjects covered. The students have produced posters & completed activities (displayed at back of the hall). It is hoped that this incentive will continue into other schools and a booklet be produced.
  Helen also advised that she had been working with the Colsterworth Brownies and helping them attain their Crime Prevention Badge.

• Fire & Safety Helen advised that the Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Service are offering a free Home Fire Safety Check and she encouraged the Co-ordinators to advertise this with their members and also take the opportunity to have the check done themselves. She will let them have the request form which they can then copy and use to refer any householder who would benefit from this service.

• Chief Inspector Mark Housley
  Mark introduced himself and spoke on the following subjects: How have we done in respect of crime and anti-social behaviour. What they are doing this year. What has changed: G4S; Restorative Justice; parking.
  This year there's been 3,875 reported crimes including 206 burglaries, 56 stolen cars and 265 cars broken into.
  Crime detection rate stands at 34%.
  Anti-social behaviour has a 16% reduction although it continues to be a problem.
  The Policing area is focusing on 5 main topics.
  Alcohol abuse – working with Licensees, putting the onus on them to not allow anyone on their premises to get drunk and not to serve those that are already drunk. They are to take responsibility for fights and bad behaviour as this may affect there Licences. Also Anti-social behaviour, drug abuse, Domestic violence and Fatal & seriously injured on the roads.

             The Grantham force has 5 Beat managers, 14 PCSO's, and 26 Specials.
             G4S is now in charge of back room staffing i.e. Reception,HR, Payroll, Control centre. They all have to sign the Data  Protection  
             Policy and there are consequences for misuse of this information.

            Community events: Although the Police would like to come and be seen at Fêtes, fun-runs etc. they're no longer allowed to do this  
             freely and now have to charge for this service.  

            Mark is very keen for his officers to continue to work in & with schools.
            Restorative Justice: This is coming into effect whereby the offender, victim and a Community Justice Panel get together to look at  
            how the crime committed can be dealt with.

           Parking: The Police are no longer responsible for parking issues, this is now dealt with by the Local Authority. They can only deal     
           with obstructions and parking on zigzag lines.

• A.O.B. Helen advised everyone that John Marriott has recently passed away and she will be attending the funeral.

Close of meeting.