RESIDENTS from Thame, Chinnor and Watlington are being encouraged to go along and have their say at public meetings to tell police and other local agencies what issues need tackling in their community to make them feel safer.
Sgt Martin Jubb, responsible for implementing neighbourhood policing in South Oxfordshire, said: ?It is important to come to your local meeting if you possibly can so you can have a say in what the priorities should be for police and partner agencies in your community.
?We are also conducting surveys in the area for people who can?t make the meetings.?
This new approach to community safety is called Neighbourhood Policing and is being gradually rolled out across the Thames Valley.
The initiative aims to encourage better communication between police, other agencies responsible for community safety, and the communities they work with. Officers and other public agencies will respond to the issues which directly affect residents, with the aim of reducing and detecting crime, increasing reassurance and reducing the fear of crime.
Sgt Mike Todd, in charge of the three neighbourhoods, added: ?This is a genuine two-way dialogue with residents where they can choose the issues they want us and other agencies to do for them.
Residents will be involved in the whole process from deciding the priorities, the problem solving process, to taking action. This will help us make good links with the community and improve our community intelligence networks.
?I hope the meetings are very well attended and people take this opportunity to have their say about what issues they want to see tackled locally.?
Following the meetings a neighbourhood action group (NAG) will agree how to best tackle the issues raised. The group will include representatives from the police, councils, education and, most importantly, members of the community.
The meetings are as follows:
? Wednesday 17 January 7.30pm-9pm Thame Town Hall
? Thursday 18 January 7.30pm-9pm ? Mill Lane School Chinnor
? Thursday 1 February 7.30pm-9pm ? Icknield Community college, Love Lane Watlington
If you can?t make the public meeting, the neighbourhood team will be going out in the areas and asking residents about any issues concerning them.
For more information about your local neighbourhood policing team in Thame, Chinnor or Watlington, or to discuss any issues in the community, please contact Sgt Mike Todd or members of the team via 0845 8 505 505
Your local officers are:
? Sgt Michael Todd ? Thame, Chinnor, Watlington
? PC Aiden Lacey, PCSO Jacqueline Madden ? Chinnor
? PC Russell Hounslow, PCSO Diane Jackson ? Thame
? PC Ian Kent, PCSO Zoe Eele – Watlington
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