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Policing successes with Safer Neighbourhoods
• WE feel bound to respond to the continued speculation and discussion surrounding the running of the Haverstock Safer Neighbourhoods Panel.
Much has been written about the position of Beverly Gardner and recent panel meetings and we wish to make some things unequivocally clear.
The Haverstock Safer Neighbourhoods Panel has a constitution, which both former vice-chairs were involved in the drafting of, as do most other panels across Camden. Each member is bound by the terms of this constitution. In addition, every member has a right to report any breach of that constitution and this was recently the case in the Haverstock ward.
Following a meeting by the panel to discuss the alleged breach by Ms Gardner, to which she was invited, but declined to attend, the panel’s decision, supported by a democratic vote, was that she should be deselected as vice-chair. This was an informed decision taken by the members of the panel, and not, as has been suggested a ‘kangaroo court’, and certainly not a police decision.
Membership is a decision for the panel.
There has been much discussion around the role of Safer Neighbourhoods Teams within the local press and, as your local panel; we will work towards ensuring community safety across the ward. This work can only be completed with the involvement of the local community and the local authority. There have been a number of successes within the Haverstock ward since the inception of Safer Neighbourhoods policing, most recently being the reduction in motor vehicle crime troubling the Crogsland Road area, a concern highlighted by the community.
We accept that there are many issues remaining, and it is with the help of the local community that we will address these issues and resolve them.
A well-attended annual meeting was held on September 11 at which two new panel members were put forward and welcomed. All officers were up for election; the chair and the secretary were uncontested, and will remain in their roles for the next 12 months; an election for the contested position of vice-chair was run, at which both candidates made excellent speeches, resulting in a close race, 17 votes to 15 in favour of Michael Cookson-Taylor, the new vice-chair.
The election process was conducted in accordance with the constitution, and the make up of the panel was confirmed for the next year.
We have every confidence in the current panel representing Haverstock ward, and the police team. We are also pleased with the partnership working we have forged together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Haverstock. We are working and will continue to work for and on behalf of the local community, for the benefit of its residents, businesses and those who visit the ward. We hope that we can all move on and continue to work to improve the quality of life for everyone on the ward.
Simon Horvat-Marcovic Chair, Haverstock Safer Neighbourhoods Panel
STEVE SHEPPERD
Inspector, Central Cluster Safer Neighbourhoods Teams
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