Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour: A report back from your MP Luciana Berger following the community meeting on the future of local policing in the Wavertree constituency.
Tackling crime and making our homes, streets and estates safe places for everyone is important to all of us. On 10th February 2011 Luciana Berger MP hosted a meeting for over one hundred local people to have their say about the future of policing in this part of the city. This report was prepared for those who either attended the meeting or were unable to join us but responded to the questionnaire. Joining Luciana, residents could make their points to:
- Bill Weightman, chair of the Merseyside Police Authority;
- Ian Harvey from the Police Federation;
- Vernon Coaker MP, the shadow minister for policing;
- And local Police sergeant Bobby Woodhall.
The meeting heard that over the next four years, the police budget on Merseyside will be cut by £61 million. There’s already a recruitment freeze in place and 450 fewer police and 250 fewer support staff than a few years ago. These government cuts will have a real impact on policing in Wavertree. Over the next 5 years we will lose 800 police officers and 1,200 police support staff. There has been no detail so far on Police Community Support Officers.
The government is proposing a new kind of elected police commissioner, paid up to £100,000 a year, with the powers to sack the chief constable. Many people are concerned at the politicisation of the police, and the cost of this reorganisation at a time of cuts to front line policing.
There is a real concern that specially-trained police officers dealing with cases of rape, domestic violence, race hate, drugs or child abuse will be cut. There has already been a cut to Liverpool’s anti-social behavioural unit. The local survey results showed that just over three-quarters (77%) of those who responded to the questionnaire were concerned about cuts to the local police.
Some of the points raised:
The meeting broke into a series of round table discussions, and the ideas from each group were noted.
Some of the comments were positive:
- Alleygates were praised as a good way to tackle crime.
- People wanted to set up neighbourhood watch schemes in their local communities but had a lack of knowledge about what was involved and how to do it.
- The Police were praised for the role they play in community cohesion.
- Some people felt safer as a result of the introduction of safer neighbourhood teams but were worried that crime was going to rise and is already rising.
Many concerns were raised about:
- Young people hanging around in groups, making people feel intimidated, particularly older people; under-age drinking.
- Drugs – which can be smelt in public places, but not enough is done.
- Private landlords are not doing enough to tackle anti-social behaviour by their tenants.
- Police response rates to 999 calls and the need to publicise local numbers more to reduce the number of 999 calls.
- Protection for witnesses.
- The need for longer jail sentences.
- The risks of local people forming vigilante groups if the police can’t do their job.
- The cuts might mean that preventative policing will suffer.
- Need for feedback to local residents about how the police have actioned the reported incident, so people feel informed and involved.
- Curfews for some individuals.
- The cost and powers of the proposed elected police commissioner.
Key local neighbourhood issues included:
- Picton: dog crime in and off Smithdown Road, and in the parks.
- Kensington and Fairfield: The arcade on Prescot Road is attracting anti-social behaviour and there are too many off licenses in Kensington.
- Wavertree: In Northway, residents have been fighting anti-social behaviour, and the local neighbourhood watch representative’s house had been targeted and damaged.
- Childwall: The police needed to do better PR around Queen’s Drive after their newsletter mentioned boys on bikes being stopped; there are worse crimes taking place.
- Church: There are too many bars and restaurants on Allerton Road having an impact on local residents.
- Childwall and Kensington: the ‘home watch’ scheme was praised.
- In the L15 area, the visible police patrols were praised but students need to be made aware of the crime in the area.
These are just some of the comments raised on the night. Many more were made and noted and have been raised.
Key Action Points
- A note would be sent to everyone who took part, and to the local police.
- Luciana Berger MP will raise all of these issues face to face with the police.
- Luciana Berger MP will raise local concerns about policing in parliament with ministers, and with Liverpool City Council.
- Luciana Berger MP will explore ways and raise awareness about setting up neighbourhood watch schemes across the constituency.
