Public Meeting Gives Witham Residents the Opportunity to Raise Local Concerns

Residents from across Witham came together on Thursday 24th September for a public meeting hosted at the town's new community centre, providing an opportunity to discuss local policing, community safety and fire service issues with local representatives.

The event, held at the newly opened Witham Community Centre on Haygreen Road, was chaired by Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Joel Charles and featured a panel including Chief Inspector Martin Richards, Witham Mayor Paul Heath, Councillor Charley Dervish, Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager Steve Wintrip. The meeting took place from 7pm to 8pm at Witham Community Centre, Haygreen Road, Witham CM8 1GT.

The panel would like to extend its sincere thanks to Witham Town Council for making its impressive new community centre available for the meeting and for supporting local engagement with residents.

A large number of people attended, raising a wide range of questions and issues affecting their communities.

Topics discussed included:

• The use of electric scooters and e-bikes and concerns around safety and enforcement.
• Women's safety and how partners are working together to help people feel safer in public spaces.
• Police visibility in local neighbourhoods and opportunities for increased engagement with residents.
• Support available for victims of domestic abuse and efforts to tackle violence and abuse within communities.
• Shoplifting in the town centre and the work being undertaken by Essex Police, retailers and partners to address offending and support businesses.

Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Joel Charles thanked everyone who attended and took part in the discussion.

"Public meetings are an important opportunity for residents to speak directly with local leaders, ask questions and share their concerns. We are grateful to everyone who came along to the meeting and contributed to a constructive and informative discussion. 

"The wide range of topics raised demonstrates how much people care about their community, and those conversations help inform the work of policing, fire and community safety partners across Essex."

The PFCC will continue to hold public meetings across Essex, giving residents the chance to hear directly from local partners and have their voices heard on the issues that matter most to them.