After the formal business of the AGM, beat officers PC John Alderson and PC Rob Jones answered questions put to them by residents.
PC Alderson said they were understaffed. On Beat Five, there will be 4 officers soon. But Beat Five runs from The Swan at Mansbridge to the top of the Flower Estate. It is so big they have to drive round. Foot patrols are not feasible.
He said that 10 to 20 people in the Flower Roads are prolific offenders. But one had recently been sentenced to 3 years and another 6 months. They needed to get on top of this group. Young people have to commit very serious offences before they get locked up. The amount of paperwork is horrendous; to arrest a juvenile takes most of the day.
When asked what we can do to help the police, PC Alderson said that identification was their main problem. So provide as much information as you can. It is worth reporting every minor thing by ringing 0845 0454545. If nothing is reported there will be less staff. Everything reported will be given a crime number. If a lot is reported, then someone will say “Let’s do something about it”.