Saltford Parish Council hosts ‘Meet Your Community Police Officers’ event

Saltford Parish Council (SPC) arranged an opportunity for residents to meet with their local police officers on the evening of 16 November at Saltford Hall. SPC was grateful to B&NES Ward Cllr Duncan Hounsell for chairing the meeting at SPC’s invitation. SPC Councillors were present to hear the concerns of residents.

Saltford’s B&NES Ward Councillor Alastair Singleton – also B&NES Council’s representative on Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel – began the meeting by sharing information on the role of the panel. As well as detailing its responsibility for scrutinising the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Cllr Singleton also updated those present on recent changes in police personnel in the B&NES area.

Following this, Keynsham Beat Team PSCOs Lee Hicks and Stuart Quinn gave an overview of crime rates in Saltford. They then went on to answer a range of questions from the public. These included local matters such as inconsiderate parking, speeding in residential roads, and levels of police patrols in Saltford. Wider policing matters were also raised by residents. These included women’s safety, youth violence in Bath, and funding levels for the police.

Helpful information provided by the police at the meeting included the option for groups of Saltford residents to set up their own ‘Community Speed Watch’ schemes, as well as information on how best to report issues to the police. Guidance included calling 101 (999 in an emergency), which goes to all members of the Keynsham Beat Team for awareness and response.

Trevor Wilmot, Avon and Somerset Police’s Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (NHW) administrator was invited to speak on local crime reports and the benefits of NHW groups. Mr Wilmot stated that membership of NHW schemes in Saltford was buoyant and encouraged areas in the village that were not part of the scheme to sign up. He shared that being a part of a NHW scheme statistically reduces the chances of becoming a victim of crime by six times. Mr Wilmot raised awareness of shed and outbuilding crimes in Saltford, as well as the increase in theft from cars. He advised residents to ensure good outbuilding security, and to make sure car doors were locked and any valuable items – including small change – were not left in vehicles.

A representative of the independently registered charity Crimestoppers was present at the meeting to explain the role of the organisation. Information about the work that Crimestoppers carry out was shared, as well as contact details for the anonymous reporting of information about crime.

Following the meeting, B&NES Ward Cllr Duncan Hounsell stated ‘Saltford residents appreciate the work of the police. This was an informative and positive meeting”.

Vice Chair of Saltford Parish Council, Cllr Phil Harding added ‘Saltford Parish Council would like to thank our PCSOs Lee Hicks and Stuart Quinn for speaking to residents and answering questions and discussing their concerns including dangerous speeding on residential roads and inappropriate parking in the village across driveways and on pavements.  We are also grateful to Ward Councillor Duncan Hounsell  for chairing the meeting and to Ward Councillor Alastair Singleton for telling us about his work representing the Ward on the A&S Police and Crime Panel. This annual meeting is a very useful means to keep in touch with our local police and to share and discuss issues of concern”.

After the meeting formally ended, residents had the opportunity to discuss matters of concern directly with the PCSOs present. The members of the Keynsham Beat Team also had a display with information about their work, as well as free personal security items for residents to take away such as mini all-purpose alarms and anti-theft bag bells.

Saltford Parish Council would like to thank everyone who came along and participated to the meeting, and especially to members of the Keynsham Beat Team for their constructive and informative responses regarding local concerns. SPC also thanks Cllr Duncan Hounsell for chairing the meeting.

The ‘Meet Your Community Police Officers’ event is hosted annually by Saltford Parish Council. More information about policing in Saltford is available on the SPC website under ‘Report It’.