This is a first for me, using both email and a blog to carry on a conversation!
I have just seen John Hoblyn's letter in the Herald on line correspondance section. As ever John's correspondance is always worth reading. I invited John in because his letters are widely read in the community and by my team. I entirely support a lively debate about policing issues, it prevents inertia and entrenched views. By inviting John in we can focus the debate. Instead of having broad discussions about policing in general, John (and others) can see what wedo that looks right and can see what appears wrong.
We are running a scheme called "Insight Patrol" which is bringing people out on patrol with us. Currently this is for a small number of partner agencies and individuals. This is giving people an insight into our work and giving us the benefit of their feedback.
Getting back to John Hoblyn's experience; all those that met him were keen to show him the good and bad points of our work, I have had feed back that they enjoyed the conversations. It was particularly good that "J Hoblyn & PC Clark of Plympton" could meet in person, rather than through the letter pages of the Herald (a future photo opportunity!).
John is right, we share more common views than we have disagreements. I share some of John's frustrations, a major difference though is that I am accountable for making it better; the Police have to take all these "challenges" wether we own the issue or not and do something about them.
The good thing is; since we will never get everything right all the time, there will be no excuse for John to hang up his pen!
