Local residents, community groups, businesses and victims of crime will all get the chance to have their say on the first Police and Crime Plan for Avon and Somerset when Commissioner Sue Mountstevens makes a return visit to Patchway next month.
The newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) first visited Patchway last December to to learn first hand about the work being carried out by Southern Brooks Community Partnership (SBCP), who are based at Coniston Community Centre. On that occasion, she also made a walkabout tour of The Parade local centre, where she met a shopkeeper who has been experiencing ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour and racism.
The PCC must publish a Police and Crime Plan by the end of March 2013, setting out the vision, aims and objectives for her term in office. This is a five-year plan but it will be refreshed annually.
Ms Mountstevens, who will be touring each of the six policing districts of Avon and Somerset to try and capture as many local views as possible, said:
“It is really important that residents tell me what is important to them so it becomes our Police and Crime Plan. Everybody who makes up Avon and Somerset whether they live or work in the area will all have a view. I would particularly like to hear from the people that would not normally respond to surveys, the quiet voices, because policing and crime affects us all.”
“For the first time ever there will be a Police and Crime Plan for each of the six policing districts of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset East, Somerset West, and South Gloucestershire. Each Plan will set out the vision for the local area following consultation with you. Policing and crime affects us all and only by working together and tackling the priorities that matter to you can we make Avon and Somerset be safe and feel safe.”
The Commissioner will be at Coniston Community Centre between 10am and 12 noon on Thursday 7th February.
For those unable to attend the drop-in session in Patchway, there is also an online consultation survey, open until 22nd February.
Printed copies of the survey are also available at local libraries or by calling 01275 816377.
