Panel answers audience questions at PFCC Essex Harlow Public Meeting

Posted Tuesday 5th March 2024 Response times, youth engagement and screening of current and future officers were issues discussed when Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, continued a busy schedule of public meetings in Harlow yesterday. Roger was joined at the public meeting on Monday 4^th March in the Moot House, The Stow, Harlow, by Ch Insp Paul Austin, Essex Police Harlow District Commander, Group Manager Steve Wintrip of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, Cllr Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council and Cllr John Steer, Portfolio Holder for Community at Harlow Council. At the meeting audience members put questions to the panel on a range of issues including women’s representation in Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, the 101 telephone reporting service and memorials for officers from both services who lost their lives in the course of their duties. Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said: “It was a good meeting and useful issues were raised by the audience. It’s always good to hear what people are thinking and we heard plenty to inform future plans.” This meeting was the final meeting in the PFCC’s schedule of public meetings which sees the PFCC visit each of the 14 districts in Essex to hear first-hand about the fire and rescue service, policing and community safety issues. The PFCC will commence a public meeting schedule for 2024/25 in the autumn of 2024, when public meetings for each of the 14 districts in Essex will again be scheduled.