I want to hear your views on fighting and preventing crime
My column this month is a little different, as I need your help. I’m calling on you, the people of Sunderland, to get your thinking caps on about the policing issues that matter the most to you and your family.
This is because I’m launching my ‘Fighting Crime, Preventing Crime’ survey and I really want as many people as possible to share their views on the policing and community needs for their area.
I’d appreciate your honest views and insight because it will be crucial in helping me to shape my new Police and
Crime Plan, outlining what the force should focus on to ensure Northumbria stays one of the safest regions in the country.
Following on from my election last year, many of you have told me you want to see more police officers out in their uniforms on the streets and I’ve been determined to make that happen. In fact, Northumbria Police’s latest recruitment drive has seen more than 200 officers hired since lockdown – that’s 133 more than the Government’s uplift target.
Another key focus has been establishing a Violence Reduction Unit which has helped towards an 18 per cent fall in knife crime - which is a great start to build on. Of course, our policing needs are constantly evolving and the pandemic has brought new, ongoing challenges that we need to keep responding to. It’s your police force and I want to make sure you feel listened to and supported.
So, whether it’s cutting down anti-social behaviour, reducing violence in our region, getting more police on our streets or a creating a future for our young people, this is the time to make it happen by completing the online survey: http://bit.ly/PCPCon2020
I am also looking to bring a ‘Fighting Crime, Preventing Crime’ survey bus to a long list of places in the area from Washington to South Shields over the coming months to help get as many views as possible. For now though, this has been postponed while the region adjusts to local lockdown, and will be relaunched once public health advice on how best to engage face to face has been considered.
This consultation will allow us to say what needs improving and what we need to see more of. It will help me form a plan – your plan - to bring about positive change to fight crime, prevent crime and improve lives in your local community.