POLICE have today thrown down a challenge to Huddersfield people: Come and talk to us.
Officers are to host meetings across Huddersfield and want people to go and tell them how police can make a difference to their neighbourhoods.
The meetings are held under the banner It's Your Community, It's Your Call and the first will be at Deighton tomorrow.
The meeting will cover issues in Kirklees Council’s Ashbrow ward and Huddersfield North Neighbourhood Policing Team are encouraging people to come along and have their say.
The meeting will be in the Deighton Centre on Deighton Road, starting at 6pm.
Police and councillors will be discussing and exploring ways of making the area a safer and better place in which to live.
Kirklees police commander Chief Supt Barry South will give an introduction, followed by Det Con Kevin Mosley from Crimestoppers with a presentation on confidential reporting.
Det Sgt Damien Roebuck, from Kirklees District Drugs Team, will speak about gathering evidence and the team’s successes while Det Insp Pat O'Neill will discuss witness protection measures.
Insp Dave Barnett will talk about neighbourhood policing and how people can make a difference.
He said: “Ashbrow ward is an area where, historically, people have been reluctant to speak with the police.
“We recognise there might be some very good reasons for this, such as fear of recrimination and a perceived lack of support. Certain elements in the community capitalise on that reluctance and make life an absolute misery for their neighbours.
“We have changed what we do to make that reluctance a thing of the past. Confidential reporting methods, as well as new ways of gathering evidence and intelligence, are all paving the way forward. All we need is that call from the community.
“I want to show people the great results we have had in the last year developing these methods to bring people to justice and without endangering those who have given us the information we need.
“We can work with anonymous information and, if necessary, can protect and support victims and witnesses.’’
“I believe this will give people the confidence they need to let us know who is committing crime and ruining their lives. We’re giving the residents the power to rid the community of criminals and the misery they inflict on so many.’’
Ashbrow councillor Clr Ken Smith is also the West Yorkshire Police Authority spokesman for Kirklees and chairman of Ashbrow Neighbourhood Management Group, which oversees community safety issues.
He said: “We have a continuing reduction in crime and an increasing community policing team – now at 11 staff on patrol – so we are safer than we ever were.
“But there are still some pockets in the ward where people are reluctant to give information to what is, after all, their own police. We are a community which should see the police as working for us and help them to continue to improve our streets.’’
The evening will end in a question and answer session for residents to air their views.
Chief Supt South said: “This is your chance to hear how we can deal with all types of crime affecting life in Ashbrow and how you as residents can assist in that process.
“We know that local people are behind us in the fight against crime and we are calling on them for their continued support.’’
Similar events are set for the Dewsbury West area, also covering Mirfield, with plans to expand the scheme across Kirklees.
