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Some of the officers who will make up the new patrols
at the Town Hall on Tuesday |
Police restructure under fire as 'undemocratic'
Dedicated teams of officers now patrol
ever ward to fight crime
A MAJOR restructuring of how Camden is policed was officially
launched at the Town Hall on Tuesday.
A dedicated team of six police officers will now patrol each
of the borough’s ten wards, or constituencies, tackling
crimes such as vandalsim, graffiti and street urination.
Officers from each of the ten teams attended a reception at
the Town Hall on Tuesday.
But one aspect of the government scheme, has come under fire
from critics who claim it is undemocratic.
Also included in the plans are Safer Neighbourhoods Panels (SNPs)
– a forum of residents and police.
The panels replaced sector working groups, which have existed
for more than a decade and hold open public meetings for the
discussion of any crime concerns.
The new panels, however, can choose whether or not to make all
their meetings public. Critics are also worried that the focus
on low-level policing will mean residents do not have a forum
where they can discuss more serious crime issues.
Lib Dem council election candidate Ed Fordham said: “There
is nowhere now, apart from borough-wide meetings, to discuss
serious crime because SNPs only deal with lower-level crime.”
He said that drugs, sustained criminal activity and organised
crime are all off the panels’ agenda.
Eight SNPs, including ones in Hampstead, Kilburn, Gospel Oak
and Swiss Cottage, have been running for some time. Hampstead’s
SNP meets regularly, but will only hold two public meetings
a year.
Tory councillor for Frognal and Fitzjohn’s Andrew Mennear
said the panels were too small. He said: “People are unhappy
because it means the only places where they are able to discuss
policing issues is at ward or borough level.
“For example there is no place to discuss what’s happening
across Hampstead because it’s split between Hampstead,
Frognal and Fitzjohn’s.”
Borough Police Commander Mark Heath, speaking at a Town Hall
meeting of Camden Community and Police Consultative Group (CCPCG)
last Wednesday, attempted to allay fears, saying: “Community
engagement is not going to go away.”
Peter Ward, CCPCG group administrator, said: “If you identify
something that’s got bigger implications than just your
patch you can raise this at the panel meetings.” He said
that views would then be carried on to cluster meetings –
a forum for those who chair panels, police sergeants and inspectors.
Outraged sector group members told the meeting they had received
no notification of the decision to close their groups. June
Swann, of Kentish Town sector working group, which ran for 12
years, said: “It would have been nice to have a thank-you
for all the work we’ve done for no money.” |
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