Police aiming to get back to communities with Street Weeks scheme

But it can also be a long time when it comes to policing, which is why officers are so passionate about the force’s new Street Weeks initiative.

Working with a variety of community safety partners, officers from Colchester’s community policing team spent a week in the New Town ward, carrying out high visibility patrols, listening to what matters to residents and working with partners on community issues.

Just a few years ago, community support officers were ward-based, meaning they could get to know people in the area, – be they for positive reasons or negative – but now a lack of resources makes that more difficult.

Officers are hoping to claw back some of that familiarity and community engagement with Street Weeks and knocked on 900 doors in the ward to speak with residents.

Their concerns about traffic in the area saw speed checks carried out in Hythe Hill, Port Lane and Wimpole Road.

Speed checks - PCSO Mark Hibben

Volunteer special constables were also able to arrest a drink driver and make 40 stop checks on vehicles which led to everything from a car being seized to verbal warnings being issues for minor defects.

Officers also executed a warrant in Artillery Street which resulted in a stash of drugs being seized.

I was invited out on the last day of the initiative with PSCO Emma Miller and district commander Chief Insp Shaun Kane as they continued knocking on doors on Winnock Road – an area which had been pinpointed as an anti-social behaviour hotspot.

The response from residents were overwhelming positive with some, but not all, reporting issues with problems in the alleyway which runs parallel to their back gardens.

Mr Kane said any kind of information, no matter how minor, could help his officers build up intelligence. He said: “We want to increase our visibility as a police service and knowledge is power. The engagement we have completed through Street Weeks enables us to understand the local needs for local people.

“We are listening to our communities and understanding what lies beneath the statistics in terms of crime, anti-social behaviour and quality of life issues which impact on everybody.

“It is really important to get intelligence on issues we are already aware of as well as some we may not be.

“I wanted to make sure I was visible at the front line in this engagement - we want to put people and communities at the heart of everything we do.

“I really believe in it and want to introduce myself to as many of the people me and my team are committed to keep safe.”

One of the most important aspects of Street Weeks is partnership working. Police officers worked with neighbourhood watch co-ordinators in the area to try to boost membership as well as council zone wardens.

They were able to organise help with council-related issues including the removal of 20 graffiti tags, 30 people being given advice about dog fouling, refuse and recycling and certain pavements being treated with the hot jet washer. PCSO Emma Miller said working together was key to making Street Weeks a success and was pleased with how the public responded.

She said: “The reaction and the perception has been positive. Much of it as been what we expected - people living near the Recreation Ground have had issues with anti-social behaviour on the rec.

“We can look at minor and low level crime and we can work with partners like the council to ensure the gates are locked overnight.

“We have tried to make sure it has been really high visibility, so people can see us around.”

Another agency involved in the initiative were the voluntary police cadets who took part in a litter pick and worked with the fire brigade on home safety advice.

Working hard - voluntary police cadets get involved

Group leader Sgt Ben Pedro Anido was involved with 20 cadets aged between 14 and 17 who were delighted to help out and put the skills they learn on a weekly basis to the tests.He said: “It was really important to stress how important it is to work in partnerships - we are not just one team.

“With them being out there they can really see the work which is going on to make the town better.

“The cadets are a part of the policing team – obviously there are lots of aspects they cannot get involved with due to their age – but being able to work on an initiative with officers is a real buzz.”

“They get first hand experience on what a career in the police could hold.”