Sign Petition for better policing of Marple Memorial Park and Town Centre

[Steve Gribbon]

***Policing update***
Good afternoon. Thanks to those who signed the recent petition on getting support for the Police which will hopefully provide residents with increased safety and peace of mind. The petition both online and with paper versions is approaching the 1000 mark which is a tremendous effort.
Since the meeting with the Chief Superintendent of Stockport happened the Hazel Grove area has been allocated a new Sergeant. The Hazel Grove Inspector has requested extra attention to be paid to our parks and greenspace areas working in conjunction with the annual safe4summer campaign. A request for specialist units for the longer term has also been put forward and we are now starting to see more beat Police officers.
As I have said previously this will not be an overnight fix but I feel this is moving us in the right direction. I'm very grateful that so many of our community have been so supportive with the campaign and each other during a trying time.
Have a lovely and safe bank holiday weekend
Kind regards
Steve

[GM]

Whilst I don't disagree about the slap on a wrist, Borstal was only a minor deterrent more for the ones that committed actual crime requiring a sentence, but I would have been more afraid of the police speaking to my parents.

Parents are the deterrent, or in the past it certainly was.

[the rover]

I think that the biggest problem is that even if they catch these young people, they will get away with just a slap on the wrist and they know this. In my younger days (so long ago) there was Borstal which did change some of them and they no longer pursued a life of crime when they came out, maybe they should bring something like that back as a deterrent.

I remember years ago speaking to a policeman in the Memorial park who was "watching" about 40-50 young people in the park and he said what am I supposed to do? If I approach them they will just scatter in all directions and run out of the park. So he was just there to "watch" and call for backup if something kicked off

In the year 2020 I was attacked by an 11 year old outside my house and ended up being carried off in an ambulance so all this trouble is not new.

[admin]

Am I the only person who is surprised to see Brabyns Park listed there?  My own experience may not be typical, but I walk our dog virtually every afternoon in Brabyns, and occasionally in the evenings too.  There are plenty of people around - families, groups of teenagers - picnicking and playing in the river, especially in the recent heatwave.   But I have never once seen anything untoward.  The worst I've witnessed is kids dropping litter.......  .   So I'd be sorry if people started to believe that Brabyns has become a no-go area.  The danger then is that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: people start to believe that an area is not safe, so they stop going there, so anyone out to cause trouble or misbehave in some way is more likely to get away with it.  So even fewer people go there.

Admin refers in another post to an incident in Brabyns in which a woman was 'accosted' in her car yesterday.  I had not heard about that (admin can you tell us any more?), and I'm not suggesting that it should not be taken seriously.   But one isolated incident doesn't make Brabyns a 'no-go area'.

I was away when you posted this @Dave, so didn't reply at the time. The lady in the first incident was surrounded by youths and her exit blocked by vehicles.

Unfortunately it is no longer an isolated incident as Cllr @Steve Gribbon has reported the following on social media yesterday:

"Good afternoon

There was an incident in Brabyns Park car park on Thursday evening just before 8pm. It was broad daylight and other passers-by were in the vicinity. A tall, slim, white male youth tried to car-jack a woman at knife point using a large kitchen knife. He was unsuccessful and ran off along the path above the children's playground and into the bushes.

I have been asked by the woman involved to let the local community know. Please be alert and on your guard. It happened extremely quickly. The suggestion from the person involved (which I agree with) is that before you approach your car you check the surroundings.

We are continuing to liaise with the police regarding crime and antisocial behaviour in the area, but please be aware of the danger of this type of incident and be vigilant in case the perpetrator tries to carry out any further attacks.

The police have gathered evidence and are investigating the incident. If you have any information please contact the GMP online chat facility or 101, you can also use crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111

Kind regards
Steve"

[Condate]

I think there needs to be a much wider debate about police and policing than just a knee jerk petition saying we want more police in our area, which is usually at the cost of somewhere else.
There needs to be a debate about why so many communities both geographic and cultural have lost confidence in the police service and the individuals who serve in it particularly its leadership. The lack of transparancy and accountability the institutional racism and homophobia have all caused a gradual withering away of support for the police particularly amongst groups of society which previously could always be expected to support the police.
We should be looking for better policing and better police officers not more of the same.
I think a petitions like this is just popularisim and I would have expected better from #Steve Gribbons. If there are problems in the parks and town centre then yes indeed they need tackling but not by subjecting the rest of us to intrusive intimidating police officers.
I wont be signing and it would appear that very few of the town 20,000 population will either.

The main reason people have lost confidence in the police is that there are so few of them and people don't see them often enough.

I am well aware that the number of police officers available is not something the council can do anything about, but it is the real problem and trying to find others is pointless.

One of the original Peelian Principles is that police success is not judged by numbers of criminals arrested, but by the number of crimes deterred by police presence.  This is one of the key issues. Another key principle is the police are well known to the public and the public are well known to the police, as the went to the same schools, live in the same streets etc and have lived alongside them all their lives and are not only police officers, but friends with the people they protect.

These principles seems to have been lost, but we can't blame the council for that. No about of surgeries or victim support can substitute for this problem. Victim support is important, but ensuring there are no victims is more important.

[wheels]

I think there needs to be a much wider debate about police and policing than just a knee jerk petition saying we want more police in our area, which is usually at the cost of somewhere else.
There needs to be a debate about why so many communities both geographic and cultural have lost confidence in the police service and the individuals who serve in it particularly its leadership. The lack of transparancy and accountability the institutional racism and homophobia have all caused a gradual withering away of support for the police particularly amongst groups of society which previously could always be expected to support the police.
We should be looking for better policing and better police officers not more of the same.
I think a petitions like this is just popularisim and I would have expected better from #Steve Gribbons. If there are problems in the parks and town centre then yes indeed they need tackling but not by subjecting the rest of us to intrusive intimidating police officers.
I wont be signing and it would appear that very few of the town 20,000 population will either.

[amazon]

@Steve Gribbon, sorry to seem negative, but this feels very much more like discussions around what we'd like but nothing that constitutes a plan with dates and resources that will culminate in an increase and focus of beat time to where it's most effective, (which ultmiately is what's needed). I'm struggling to see how surgeries and meetings with victims of crime will have a direct positive impact, they will for sure use police resource, but will it be effective use of resource or indeed the right type of resource?

Fair comment

[ROTHERS]

@Steve Gribbon, sorry to seem negative, but this feels very much more like discussions around what we'd like but nothing that constitutes a plan with dates and resources that will culminate in an increase and focus of beat time to where it's most effective, (which ultmiately is what's needed). I'm struggling to see how surgeries and meetings with victims of crime will have a direct positive impact, they will for sure use police resource, but will it be effective use of resource or indeed the right type of resource?

agreed

[jimblob]

Good morning

The agreed planned actions were in relation to the items I listed, Police surgeries, increased beat time and improved communication with victims of crime as examples. Current resources indicate that this cannot be a quick fix and I have made this clear. From a councillor point we are looking at how our community is protected and will work with our local Police team who provide us with updates of criminal activity and arrests etc.

The Policing is very important to us not just as councillors but as residents also.

I hope that answers the question.

Kind regards

Steve

@Steve Gribbon, sorry to seem negative, but this feels very much more like discussions around what we'd like but nothing that constitutes a plan with dates and resources that will culminate in an increase and focus of beat time to where it's most effective, (which ultmiately is what's needed). I'm struggling to see how surgeries and meetings with victims of crime will have a direct positive impact, they will for sure use police resource, but will it be effective use of resource or indeed the right type of resource?

[Steve Gribbon]

Good morning

The agreed planned actions were in relation to the items I listed, Police surgeries, increased beat time and improved communication with victims of crime as examples. Current resources indicate that this cannot be a quick fix and I have made this clear. From a councillor point we are looking at how our community is protected and will work with our local Police team who provide us with updates of criminal activity and arrests etc.

The Policing is very important to us not just as councillors but as residents also.

I hope that answers the question.

Kind regards

Steve

[admin]

Like a very large number of people, I don't use social media. Are there any reliable sources?

I've been away for several weeks, so apologies for the delay in replying.

Yes there are reliable sources. In my role with Friends of the Park I have spoken / corresponded with a number of people who have been subject to assaults or have witnessed them. Councillor @Steve Gribbon has spoken with more and I have passed on any details I have received to local councillors and council officers, including photographs.

@Steve Gribbon, are you able to provide some detail on what you refer to as "agreed planned actions"

I too would like to know more about the "agreed planned actions" please @Steve Gribbon

[jimblob]

Among many areas we discussed were:

• An increased amount of ‘beat time’ by officers which appears to have started already;
• An improved communication between the Police and victims of crime;
• A return to Police ’surgeries’ whenever possible so our community can meet and discuss matters with our local Police team;
• The selling of illegal substances in and around where we live;
• A discussion about Police vehicles carrying out more journeys around our residential areas and parks/car parks rather than just returning up one road when returning to their base;
• An overall improvement of public faith

Colin and I were very pleased with the agreed planned actions.
Kind regards
Steve

@Steve Gribbon, are you able to provide some detail on what you refer to as "agreed planned actions"

[Steve Gribbon]

Good morning
On Tuesday Councillor Colin Macalister and I met with the Police Chief Superintendent (CS) of Stockport. The meeting was set up because of recent local incidents and a desire to increase Police support and improve public protection.
We are pleased to say the meeting went very well. The CS acknowledged and was grateful for the petition that so many had signed not just online but in local shops also. Among many areas we discussed were:
An increased amount of ‘beat time’ by officers which appears to have started already;
An improved communication between the Police and victims of crime;
A return to Police ’surgeries’ whenever possible so our community can meet and discuss matters with our local Police team;
The selling of illegal substances in and around where we live;
A discussion about Police vehicles carrying out more journeys around our residential areas and parks/car parks rather than just returning up one road when returning to their base;
An overall improvement of public faith
Colin and I were very pleased with the agreed planned actions and the speed of Police reaction to the youths on a motorbike earlier this week was a very positive step.
I stated several weeks ago that protecting our community and working to get more support for our excellent local officers will be an absolute priority and this will not change. Thanks to all those who have supported the recent campaign, I am very grateful. This will of course not be an overnight fix but it is moving where we live in the right direction.
Kind regards
Steve

[amazon]

It also depends on what in practice is meant by a "dramatic increase in resources". 

What are the resources now and how long have they been in operation?

Would an increase mean regular round-the-clock preventative patrolling? Or would it simply mean quicker reactive response to phoned-in incidents?  I suspect the latter, but would *love* to be wrong about that.

I no there is one comunity police officer short in Maple . and they have a large are to cover .

[Melancholyflower]

It also depends on what in practice is meant by a "dramatic increase in resources". 

What are the resources now and how long have they been in operation?

Would an increase mean regular round-the-clock preventative patrolling? Or would it simply mean quicker reactive response to phoned-in incidents?  I suspect the latter, but would *love* to be wrong about that.