It's a year since we got PCCs - or Police and Crime Commissioners to give them their full and glorious title. Their conception was controversial, not many people voted and as 12 month assessments roll out around the country, reports are mixed. Beds PCC Olly Martin has done good work stopping G4S private sector involvement in providing police services and opposing the sell off of our already efficient probation service.The police minister has also praised his work on diversity.
Another theme he repeats is that policing is not something that is simply done to you as a citizen but something you take responsibility for. This, of course, can lead us down the path of voluntary involvements in local policing, an idea that has had a chequered history. Cranfield once had paid security officers and then for a year or so we paid for a "Cranfield" PCSO but police managers always made it clear we didn't manage this officer and the arrangement ended.
The latest voluntary proposal does not involve boots, or loafers, or sandal or trainers on the ground but local parish councils contributing towards policing through the Beds Police Partnership Trust. This is a thin-ended wedge which I am wary of. The Trust runs the "Bobby Scheme" which carries out security assessments on the home of elderly and vulnerable people. It's a worthwhile work and the Trust administrator says they carried out nearly 1200 visits last year and 20 village home security surgeries.
That's great but they are asking for £250 a year from the PC as part of becoming a 'partner' in order to support it. Honestly I thought that was what the police precept (charge) was for and once we had paid that, there would not be any add-ons.
We have written to the Trust asking if they would like to apply for a Section137 grant (which requires that they show they have helped people in the village). More news later.
Another theme he repeats is that policing is not something that is simply done to you as a citizen but something you take responsibility for. This, of course, can lead us down the path of voluntary involvements in local policing, an idea that has had a chequered history. Cranfield once had paid security officers and then for a year or so we paid for a "Cranfield" PCSO but police managers always made it clear we didn't manage this officer and the arrangement ended.
The latest voluntary proposal does not involve boots, or loafers, or sandal or trainers on the ground but local parish councils contributing towards policing through the Beds Police Partnership Trust. This is a thin-ended wedge which I am wary of. The Trust runs the "Bobby Scheme" which carries out security assessments on the home of elderly and vulnerable people. It's a worthwhile work and the Trust administrator says they carried out nearly 1200 visits last year and 20 village home security surgeries.
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| Safe as houses? Security advice is always useful |
That's great but they are asking for £250 a year from the PC as part of becoming a 'partner' in order to support it. Honestly I thought that was what the police precept (charge) was for and once we had paid that, there would not be any add-ons.
We have written to the Trust asking if they would like to apply for a Section137 grant (which requires that they show they have helped people in the village). More news later.
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