| The Char Valley Village Communities Action Plans 2003 |
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for Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wootton Fitzpaine and Stanton St. Gabriel Parishes |
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| Action Plans for Issues affecting all Three Parishes |
| 7. Community Policing In our Community Survey 2002, the residents expressed dissatisfaction with our Community Policing. The Police personnel were not criticised as much as the system under which they operate. This is a low crime area, for which we are thankful; however, when a crime is committed, particularly when property is broken into, then the response from the Police should be much quicker and more concerned. We have a predominately elderly population, and the fear of crime can unduly restrict people’s lives. There are several instances where elderly people living alone are frightened to go out, leaving their houses unattended. Statistically, looking at the whole area, this fear may seem unjustified, but once someone has been burgled, then for that individual, the fear is completely justified. We feel there are several matters that need looking into, for the policing of our area. A more rapid response when crimes or urgent suspicious circumstances are reported to the police. The response times and attitude to the crime were repeatedly criticised by residents in our Survey. When there is a spate of thefts in an area, we are often told that these are drugs related. But the thieves have to sell their loot on somewhere, and when several mowing machines are stolen from different sheds in one night, or several thousand pounds worth of tack is stolen from a stable, it must mean that a well-developed criminal chain is in operation. These are not, in that context, small local crimes of limited significance, but part of a much wider problem. We need more police on duty from Lyme Regis to cover our area at any one time. Could they be backed up by village based special constables or wardens, who could keep an eye on what is going on in their parish and provide local information to the Police? It would be a great step forward to have officers who actually knew the lanes, tracks, farms and people of the area intimately. We do now have two Community Police Officers who work from Bridport Police Station and deal with antisocial behaviour and other problems in our local communities. Residents are not always sure that telephone calls about nuisance or suspicious circumstances are logged, or taken seriously. Those who contact the Police can ask for the log number for their call and this makes following up the enquiry easier for both sides. It would also be useful to know where the person answering the phone is based – Lyme Regis, Bridport, or further afield, where there is less knowledge of our local area. Our area is in the Exeter and East Devon telephone directory. There is a full-page advertisement for the Devon and Cornwall Police, but none for the Dorset Police. We need information on all the contact numbers for our Police Service, which should be in large type, in our directory. We have Home Watch Schemes in Morcombelake, Whitchurch Canonicorum and Wootton Fitzpaine. These are one way in which the Police are able to liaise with the local community. It is important that the Home Watch Schemes also communicate with each other to make sure that everybody knows what is going on. |
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ACTION PLAN AIMS:
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| To see that the residents of our area feel
safe, and also confident that the Police Service will come quickly in an
emergency. We also need good information in the telephone book on who to
ring, on what number in different circumstances. Actions on Community Policing • To ask for these points to be looked into by the Dorset Police and Dorset County Council Police Committee. • To have a joint meeting between the various Home Watch Committees to look into any other ideas to help the Police and the residents within our area. Information for residents For non-emergency calls: Lyme Regis Police Station 01297 442603. Calls will be automatically transferred when the Station is closed. Dorset Police main contact number 01305 251212. The Community Police Officers can be contacted through Bridport Police Station 01308 422266. The Dorset Police Community Support Unit (Mobile Police Station) calls at Charmouth, Lower Sea Lane, and Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall once a month. The days and times are posted on the adjacent notice boards (at present the third Friday in the month). You can sit in the van to discuss any Police matter and there is advice and information on security. The Dorset Police website is at www.dorset.police.uk. Local Home Watch Schemes Whitchurch Canonicorum Mrs T. Hawkins 01297 489914 Morcombelake Mrs S. Chambers 01297 489349 Wootton Fitzpaine Mr R. Haynes 01297 560568 |
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