Swaffham: Noddy in Toy Town image? No
Sometimes it's the way things are written that make you chuckle.
Last week there was a story in the Lynn News about damage caused at three premises in Swaffham's Station Yard, with thefts of considerable size, including that of two commercial vehicles. It all happened between a Friday afternoon and 6.30am the following day.
"Police are linking the crimes," said the article. Well, you would, wouldn't you? Just feeling the need to say it makes you appear just a little bit dim-witted and it all goes towards maintaining that PC Plod image that the police are sometimes tarred with.
But are our local police living up to this Noddy in Toy Town reputation? That's not the way I see it.
In spite of stories like that at Station Yard, Swaffham is not a high crime area and when speaking to women's and elderly groups – those who often feel most vulnerable – the police will say that it is not crime but fear of crime that is most likely to make people afraid to leave home. This is what Safer Neighbourhood policing is designed to combat.
For example, on Wednesday afternoon there was a town centre "street briefing". People were invited to speak to officers about any issues they had in their community that affected their quality of life. The police were there to offer crime prevention advice, property marking and free household crime prevention surveys.
Then yesterday, PCSO Hazel Tampin made a patrol, starting from the London Street Stores, accompanied by as many local residents as chose to attend. Residents were there to point out hot-spot areas where they felt unsafe and ask questions about issues that concerned them.
It is all good "bobby on the beat" stuff and follows a meeting that should see a "Respect Zone" marked on part of the Theatre Street car park. This is intended to highlight to drivers that residents live nearby.
Then there was the appointment of two dedicated Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to increase public reassurance in the town.
All this work follows the opportunity that is given at SNAP (Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel) meetings for local people to define policing priorities .
These meetings also provide reports on what the police and other agencies have done to address the priorities in the previous few months and are well worth attending.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
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Wind direction: North west
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Light rain
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