Meeting the chief and chair at Rutland County Coucnil
Rutland residents, were invited to a high profile meeting to learn more about the future of policing in the county as the force enters a year of major change.
The meeting, was attended by Chief Constable Simon Cole and Police Authority Chairman Barrie Roper He is also a Conservative Rutland County Councillor, The meeting took place in the council chamber at Rutland County Council on Monday 30th January 2012. The aim was to inform residents of the options facing both organisations as they prepare to set the budget for 2012-13 and explain the huge changes taking place in terms of policing governance.There was also a opportunity for members of the public to ask questions the meeting was hosted by Ben Jackson from BBC Radio Leicester.
Chief Constable Simon Cole and Police Authority Chairman Barrie Roper
Barrie Roper welcomed he started by stating the next 12 months will bring historic change to local policing with the arrival of an entirely new governance structure led by directly-elected Police and Crime Commissioners later in the year. He or she will be elected in November.
PCCs have been introduced to improve the democratic accountability of the police service and strengthen the relationship between the police and the public and both the Force and Police Authority are keen to promote public awareness of the changes.
He then handed over to the Treasurer of Leicestershire Police Authority who explained many issues and how the authority continues to face severe funding challenges in the current financial climate which will impact on resource allocation and investment over the coming years. As the organisation prepares to set the 2012-13 budget, which will be finalised next month, he invited residents to give their own views on its spending plans and outline their personal policing priorities during the meetings to help steer some of the tough funding decisions. The public chose to deal with policing priorities and sought clarification and details about what the police were doing to help them.
The Chief Constable Simon Cole
The Chief Constable Simon Cole stood suffering from a cold he played an interesting video presentation containing a lot of facts a figures rather to many to for me to repeat here so here is a few highlights.
There were 14 murders in Leicestershire and Rutland last year.
20,800 arrests
108 officers received awards
The Police Helicopter attend 620 incidents
The force gained 14,443 facebook likes.
There were 16% less police officers
Crime levels were reduced by 6.0%
At the end of the video presentation Simon Cole spoke:
He mention various issues such as metal thefts an increased problem throughout both counties.
He was surprised to report anti social behaviour was down by 28% a significant issue for Oakham residents.
I believe he was correct to be surprised, people are telling me they don't report incidents anymore. This was mentioned later on in the meeting when licencing matters were raised and the person speaking said its was a problem at hearing because tho public are not coming forward with their views. At this point a question came to mind how members of the public knew a licence hearing for a large Oakham venue was recently heard at Oakham Castle?
Next year will see a reduction in police who work behind the scenes, the police are likely to be replaced by civilian workers, like Jon at Oakham Police Station.
Variious slides showed the spending of the force and its income. We learnt the friendly police officer at the airport holding a machine gun, is now paid for by the airport.
He touched on the considrable costs of policing protest especial the two planned this coming weekend in Leicester. 16 police forces will be sending support.
Ben Jackson from BBC Radio Leicester
Ben Jackson from BBC Radio Leicester took questions from the public, most were a repeat questions from the previous year, all still very relevant, thefts from farms and the agony suffered by residents due to the fall out of the late night booze culture many towns suffer at weekends.
I was one of those who commented and questioned the problem of weekend late night activities.
I am pleased to say there was a real journalist present. They already detest me so they won't mind me saying the following:
Your a journalist and I can't imagine you often get a face to face meeting with the Chief Constable and The Chairman of the Police Authority. So a good opportunity for a really tough journalistic question? the sort of question an ordinary member of the public might miss. No! They stand up and ask the Chief Constable, "is the rumour going around town true, are going to sell Oakham Police Station?
It was good to hear the Leader of Rutland County Council Roger Begy fighting for Rutland and its needs from the police.
