Back to work

Hello again,

Are you reading this blog? We need to know if people are reading it and finding it useful. Please leave us a comment, even if it's just to say hello.

I am back from leave and was refreshed until, like many people nowadays, I opened my email account to find over 150 emails waiting for me. I am on day three now and just finished getting through them. The only problem is that when I do reply to people - they reply again!

In fact I did have to come in on my leave. Due to the incident in Derby Rd on the evening of 20 Feb, which has been well publicised, I was called in on Saturday, February 21 to help with the community impact of the incident. I assisted Insp Kirby, my supervisor, who is responsible for the policing of Northam, Newtown and St Marys, with getting an operation order together and arranging officers to cover high visibility patrols for several nights within the Newtown area. There have been a variety of meetings that will hopefully reduce tensions and the chance of further incidents.

We all have to keep up to date with our training as well, so on Monday it was my annual personal safety training day. This training has changed over time and now spends longer on the actual laws that allow us to use the power of force, and also body pressure points so we can get people to move, or release ourselves if we do end up in a fight. Next week I have a CID attachment for a week, which all the sergeants have to do. CID is not really my thing; I much prefer the interaction and problem solving stuff involved with community policing, but again its something we have to do.

Back to Northam and St Marys.

On February 25, PC Caroline Woodield, one of my officers for St Marys, arranged and executed a drug warrant in James St, St Marys, following considerable information. As a result some drugs were recovered and one man was charged. When we execute warrants we produce leaflets and distribute them around the immideiate area and door knock the area to let people know what we have done and to see if they have any concerns for us. We have found that really good in letting people know what is happening, particularly as a lot of the information comes from the local community. The warrant was well timed as we had the St Marys Tenants' and Residents' meeting last night, so I was able to update them. These meetings are also the place where we discuss our community priorities with the community, to identify what they want us to deal with.

On Tuesday we had the Kingsland Patch Chat - this is another meeting where we identify issues, not just for the police, but for all the agencies that attend. Present at these meetings are Housing, Neighbourhood wardens, City Patrol, residents' groups representatives, youth group leaders and Open Spaces. We discuss items from drug dealing to broken paving slabs - the aim is to enable all the agencies to identify the issues that concern residents and update them on what we are all doing.

Last week the planned clean ups in Lumpy Lane and Chapel areas went well, with support from Swaythling Housing. We hope these will be regular events.

Just to remind people, we have the following police surgeries planned:

Northam Housing Office: every Thursday 3-4pm
St Marys School: 6 March 9-10am
Tescos Express St Mary Street: 2 March 5.30-7.30pm