Lively debate enjoyed by all at Canvey public meeting
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A lively debate was enjoyed by all who attended a busy public meeting in Castle Point hosted by Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston.
The event, on Wednesday evening, was one of many held across the county by Nick Alston to give people the chance to hear about crime trends in their area, question the PCC and local officers and raise any other crime or policing related concerns.
Travellers, part-night lighting, cruising in Roscommon Way, crime trends in Castle Point, the new Essex Police local policing plan and security around Canvey’s major industrial sites were among the topics discussed.
Castle Point District Commander Chief Insp Ian Cummings spoke about crime trends in the district, putting the disappointing increase of 10.5% in all crime in the period under review into a broader context. However, ‘all crime’ on Canvey itself had gone up less than 2% and most encouragingly, house burglary on the Island was down 30%. He also spoke about the introduction of the new local policing plan, which will see officers return to Canvey Island police station on a 24-hour basis. Local policing Inspector Jeff Appleby explained that full details of the new arrangements will be made available at the beginning of October. In response to a question from Benfleet Neighbourhood Watch he said he was confident that local residents would have more assurance of regular meetings with their local PCSOs under the new arrangements.
Godfrey Isaacs, Castle Point Council’s cabinet member for safer communities and neighbourhoods, spoke about the work of the district’s Community Safety Partnership.
The meeting continued with contributions from policing experts, including Chief Inspector Dick Thomas of the Laindon Road Policing Unit and currently acting head of Essex Police Traffic Division, who spoke about ongoing, successful work to combat problems around cruising and vehicle related anti-social behaviour in Roscommon Way. Many residents said, following the recent installation of two CCTV cameras on the road, the problem had significantly reduced in the last week.
Det Chief Insp Scott Cannon, head of Essex Police’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team spoke about the 84.6% increase in sexual offences in the district. He said many of those cases were historical allegations but he was confident the rise in offences was in the main attributable to more victims’ having the confidence to come forward after the publicity around several high profile cases involving.
Nick Alston said after the meeting: “I always receive a warm welcome in Canvey. The meetings have all been busy and yet again there were some great questions and some lively and interesting debate.
“I was pleased to hear from residents that the problems around cruising in Roscommon Way finally seem to be improving, due to the new CCTV cameras and I will continue to work with the police and partners to ensure that remains the case.
“Residents also raised some very valid concerns about the recent traveller-related disorder and the security at Canvey’s major industrial sites. I will take away both of those issues and explore them further with the Chief Constable.”
Godfrey Isaacs, Castle Point Council’s cabinet member for safer communities and neighbourhoods, spoke about the work of the district’s Community Safety Partnership.
The meeting continued with contributions from policing experts, including Chief Inspector Dick Thomas of the Laindon Road Policing Unit and currently acting head of Essex Police Traffic Division, who spoke about ongoing, successful work to combat problems around cruising and vehicle related anti-social behaviour in Roscommon Way. Many residents said, following the recent installation of two CCTV cameras on the road, the problem had significantly reduced in the last week.
Det Chief Insp Scott Cannon, head of Essex Police’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team spoke about the 84.6% increase in sexual offences in the district. He said many of those cases were historical allegations but he was confident the rise in offences was in the main attributable to more victims’ having the confidence to come forward after the publicity around several high profile cases involving.
Nick Alston said after the meeting: “I always receive a warm welcome in Canvey. The meetings have all been busy and yet again there were some great questions and some lively and interesting debate.
“I was pleased to hear from residents that the problems around cruising in Roscommon Way finally seem to be improving, due to the new CCTV cameras and I will continue to work with the police and partners to ensure that remains the case.
“Residents also raised some very valid concerns about the recent traveller-related disorder and the security at Canvey’s major industrial sites. I will take away both of those issues and explore them further with the Chief Constable.”