Signs of summer...

Well with the nice weather, I abandoned the computer yesterday evening and went for a patrol around the patch.

I was intending to go to a meeting in Northam, but it was cancelled, so gave me some free time. Northam and St Marys gets some bad press, but it felt really nice wandering through the areas tonight - parents and children out at the play areas and everyone friendly. On Northam there were loads of kids in the play area in the middle of Kent St, some youngsters enjoying football at the 'Globe' by the community centre and more children in Union Rd play park. I went along Radcliffe Rd and through towards the stadium and on to Golden Grove. Through the underpass there was some graffiti and some bushes need trimming, so I made a note of that and have emailed Actionline at the City Council to see if they can remedy that.

Into Golden Grove, football training in the school playing field and the play park outside Albion Towers was full of children. St Mary Street was still bustling with people and then I went into Kingsland estate. Another park, and again full of children. As it was still warm I decided to go on to South Front, back into St Mary Street, through the St Marys Church grounds into Chapel, through there, over the footbridge to Marsh Lane and into Holyrood Estate, again another park with children. Finally I came back through Hoglands Park and to the station. Amazing that the sunny weather brings out so many people, and not a hint of bother. A great feeling of community spirit and cohesion.

During the week we have had a load more meetings, and the team have been busy with a few presentations. Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Mike Kesslar-Lyne and PC Caroline Woodfield completed some presentations at City Training, part of City College, on the roles of PCSO and police. This is a rolling programme orgaised by our City College liaison PCSO, David Wright. Several of the team have also been out completeing some of our community questionnaires. Basically this is to capture the concerns of the public that may not attend residents meetings or maybe work in the area. We completed them in Northam precinct, Sure Start at Northam and St Mary Street near Tescos this week. The results were very reassuring actually. The concerns that were raised were generally our community priorities anyway, so it shows we are on the right track. The one issue that was new is speeding in St Mary Street, so we will have a look at that, and add as a concern at the moment, but not yet a priority. Thursday was the beat surgery in Northam Housing office.

I had the Holyrood Residents association AGM on Monday night, which was entertaining, but nothing of note for the police - thankfully! Tuesday I had the Kingsland Patch Chat. This is a meeting with agencies and a few residents of Kingsland about their concerns and worries, and what we, as agencies, are doing in the area. We discuss community priorities at these meetings. Nothing too much for ther Police on Kingsland at the moment - a few reports of drug use/dealing near the railway bridge, so we will patrol that a bit more often. The Housing department have a few things in the pipeline so there will be consultations to be planned to see what the residents want.

Following that meeting I went to St Marys Fire station with my colleague Sgt Andrew Williams to meet the new station manager. We had a really good chat and have arranged all our team to spend a days attachment with the fire service. They are all looking froward to that. Then I went straight on to Unity 101 community radio. Every Tuesday at 4.30pm one of our team does a 5 minute stint in the community hour hosted by Kelly, and this week was my turn.

On Wednesday I had my six weekly meeting with Wendy from the Youth Offending Team and Rhys and Hannah from Baseline. We discuss the 'ID50' group - which are the top 50 10-17yr olds within SO14 that are identified as at risk of offending. We share information on the children, on what they have been up to, any court action, involvement and intervention. It's surprising, (or perhaps not!), how the children say one thing to Youth Offending team and something else to Baseline, and that’s where this meeting is so useful. It benefits us, and in turn will benefit the children.

Next week is half term. PCSOs Fiona Oates, Kelly Drodge and Mark Reynolds have arranged a trip to Streetwise in Dorset for our Junior PCSOs and a visit to the farm project in Shirley, so they will be interesting. On Tuesday there is Kingsland, St Marys, Holyrood lunchtime meeting. PCSO Kelly Drodge is also assisting with a Junior Neighbourhood warden event at the fire station.

Well that’s about it for this week, hope you all have a good bank holiday weekend. Weather permitting, I shall be in the garden, probably plant out the pumpkins, squash and beans - hope for no frosts, then sit and relax with a glass of red wine to admire my hard work!

Cheers

Dick