I assume if you are reading this you are good on IT and a regular on the Herald website. If so, rather than me list a load of things that have happened recently, just search under "police" on the Herald main site. Plymouth Police, my colleagues all, are delivering fantastic results. I know (because I read them) there are loads of people who genuinly hold adverse views about the Police, I am sorry you can't always see what I see and understand the detail of what is being done for the City.
- We have recently had massive drugs seizures, and now will be going after the dealer's money, a large proportion of which will be ploughed back into fighting crime.
- We have been consulting with our communities through the PACT process and delivering on very local priorities.
- We have just finished a week of action in Plympton (some results in the Herald, more to follow).
- This weekend we have been out in large numbers dealing with Anti Social Behaviour.
I know Police colleagues occasionally read this, so I would like to thank the team for their response to ASB. Since my declaration of a new stance that I made, including on the front page of the Herald, we have seen a dramatic rise in the overall number of arrests in the City, including the number of arrests for ASB related issues. I will have more detail available next week.
Clearly, as I have said many times, arrests are not the whole answer, they are a very short term response. We do not want to criminalise our young people, who have a legitamate right to be on the streets and to congregate. That being said, the public rightly expect the services they pay for to support their legitamate right to peacefully enjoy their homes, streets and city. Although arrest and enforcement are short term solutions to youth ASB and disorder, where the need arises we will positively use them.
If any readers are genuinly interested in seeing more of what we do, please let me know. We run a scheme called "Insight Patrol" which allows people to go out on patrol with us. We have to go through a security, health and data protection check, but that being done, we do let individuals have the chance to see our work form the inside.
