Alison Henandez pushed the cost of policing up by 6% this year – are we getting values for money? – Owl

A seaside town has seen anti-social behaviour drop by almost half after introducing just one “bobby on the beat”.

www.telegraph.co.uk

In the last nine months, since community beat officer PC Sam Steele has patrolled the streets of Maryport, in Cumbria, anti-social behaviour (ASB) has reduced by 47 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Now Cumbria Police hope other forces across the UK will take note and reintroduce more local ‘beat’ policing – especially in rural areas where officers can really get to know all local youths and businesses.

PC Sam Steele explained: “They see you day to day and they know you’re their friend – and they know why you’re there.

“You’re not there to enforce necessarily on them, but you’re there to just be a part of their community. We’re not reinventing any wheels, we’re just doing it the logical way, the way it should be done.

“Walking around and being that visible presence, recognising people that we know and catching people in the act – and nipping it in the bud.

“We’ve seen it in Maryport, a 47 per cent reduction in the amount of antisocial behaviour logs. That’s great – that’s 47 per cent less calls that the officer that normally responds has to respond to.

“The different towns need different approaches and different officers and Maryport is one where it’s a very friendly, open town.

“They all talk to me – it’s all by names and as we said, you’ll fight with someone one day and the next day they’ll shake your hand.”

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is classed as acts that cause intimidation and fear in residents, with examples being vandalism, harassment, anti-social drinking, vehicle abandonment and trespassing.

…….one of these 24 “winnable” parliamentary seats.

Simon Jupp has already opted for the Honiton/Sidmouth carve up of his old constituency. No one yet has described his move as a “chicken run” because it might turn out to be a bit of a turkey.

So now the Tories are offering up Exeter East & Exmouth as a definite “winnable” (though Simon doesn’t seem to have been convinced).

The East Devon Tory selection procedure in 2019 was one of the more secretive in the country with no openly published information on, for example, the shortlist of candidates from whom Simon Jupp emerged as the “chosen one”.

A photo, taken at the selection meeting in the Exmouth Community College (on a day that it was closed), was posted on the East Devon Conservative website.  The photo became newsworthy after John Humphreys’ conviction because it showed him as one of the main placard holders at the event.

A mole subsequently informed Owl that the shortlist comprised four individuals, two of whom were women, both “out of area”. The general belief at the time was that Simon was very much Hugo Swire’s choice.

Owl wonders if history will repeat itself.

Simon was very active recently helping Sophie Richards with her District Council campaign and Sophie has been busy networking recently with none other than Greg Hands, the party Chair.

As a new District Councillor it’s important to get your priorities sorted.

In 2019 Sophie unsuccessfully contested the Coventry North East constituency, a rather different kettle of fish from Exmouth.

She looks like a typical “career” politician to Owl.

Hopefuls have until 5pm on Monday 12 June to get their papers sorted.