New priorities for Northam

Hello again,

Well no sooner had I explained the Northam community priorities, than they were changed at the public meeting that evening! Although not a lot of people attended, there were enough for a good discussion. Thanks to Councillor Stephen Barnes-Andrews and Adam Cresser from Housing who were also present.

At the meeting, people mentioned their concerns and we wrote them on the flip chart but did not discuss them until we had all the concerns. Once we had the concerns, we discussed each one and finally everyone came up and identified the concern that they most wanted dealt with.

The priorities we ended up with were:

1. Youth Nuisance, particularly in Northam precinct when the IT club is in session. It's ironic really, but the IT club is so successful that there are more children attending than can get on the computers. So while they are waiting they tend to play football in the precinct, and this is the main concern.

2. Drug issues - no specific details but there is the feeling that dealing and drug related litter is on the increase again. So we will be looking at the normal places - stairwells, shed areas etc and checking out the usual faces aswell!

3. There was a draw for the third concern - between prostitute activity and dog fouling. A show of hands made prostitution the third and final community priority. Therefore dog fouling and the other concern, drinkers in the precinct, will remain concerns, but not priorities.

Everyone said they found the meeting useful. Next month it will be part of the Northam Tenants and Residents Association meeting on 3 August, with a specific police meeting for 7 September.

We are heavily into the planning of the summer activities now. Again we are working with Jazz Bhatti and the Saints in the Community to deliver five weeks of daily activities for youngsters in the city centre. Last year we had over 90 children signed up. This year is bigger with the youth clubs, Southampton City Council Sports Department, Baseline, Solent University, Hampshire Cricket, Swaythling Housing, Kick Start, Hampshire Football Association and others involved. We will provide at least two officers each day to assist, and this will also help break down barriers between us and the children. All my PCSOs are getting trained in multi-sports to help present the activities. All we need now is some decent weather! The first week's activities will be at Newtown Youth Centre and then we will be at St Marys School Playing Fields.

At the moment I send out community newsletters, alternating months between St Mary's and Northam. I have been giving some thought as to whether to combine the two newsletters, and send out a monthly newsletter to cover the whole patch of Northam and St Mary's. If you have any views on this please let me know.

Well this is the last week for PC Steve McKenzie with my team. He starts with the Town Centre Unit on Monday. He will be missed he has done a great job for the 3 years or so that he has been in the team. Now the hunt is on to try to find a replacement. PC Jeanette Denton is finding her way around so there has been a bit of a change in St Marys.

You may have heard about the Chief Constable's focus on anti-social behaviour (ASB) for the next three months. We have been looking at what we can do. Of course the summer activities with Saints are a huge commitment that we do anyway, and next week we will have our gazebo in Hoglands Park for a few afternoons to do some bike and mobile security marking, crime prevention and reassurance to park users. We used to get a lot of thefts and assaults during school holidays, and have found the gazebo events useful in making people aware of the problems.

The chief's ASB focus involves extra evening patrols and working with youth offending team and youth services. We are fortunate at the moment not to suffer very much from youth nuisance, so have let Portswood take our days as they have their Section 30 Dispersal Orders in Burgess Road and Mansbridge - so their need is greater than ours. We do have an operation planned though to use some of the non front line officers from HQ and training. We have a day planned which PC Phil Warwick will lead, and will concentrate on the community priorities for Northam and St Marys.

Anyway, that’s about it for now. I am on leave for the next three weeks, so unfortunately there may not be any updates but I am trying to persuade my colleagues, Sergeant Andrew Williams for Newtown and Sergeant Richard McWilliam for the Polygon and Waterfront to put a bit in as a change. I will keep twisting their arms - otherwise - see you in 3 weeks time.