The Crime Figures For Hawkwell

Chris, thanks for all this data on policing. I can now advise you, however, that the bedrock of policing – i.e. “Neighbourhood Policing” – is changing, and may be not for the better.

Police Commanders have told the Hockley Residents Association (following pressure by the HRA), that we will all see less of police officers proactively patrolling our streets. In future, this role will largely be undertaken by PCSOs, with the Police Constable becoming a point of contact and following upleads.

We have already seen this in Hockley/Hawkwell with PC Charles Quaey being used extensively on duties outside Hockley. Rayleigh’s PC Steve Joynes is being used on a long secondment at the Police Call Centre (what a waste of a good officer!).

We were concerned that the number of PCSOs would fall further, as a result of the further budget cuts which need to be made (PCSOs can be made redundant; PCs can’t). It seems that is currently unlikely but could change when the new Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) is elected in November.

There is currently no clear picture of what the ‘new’ Neighbourhood Policing concept will look like and this will be heavily influenced by the elected PCC. Accordingly, we need to tell our residents what is happening and to encourage interest in the PCC election, which has received little publicity.

Nominations for PCC candidates do not close until October and strangely it is proving very difficult to get definitive information from the Essex Police Authority (I wonder why?), but there currently appears to be 6 candidates (1 Con; 1 Lab; 4 Ind).

It is clear that our police face a difficult period, with fewer officers. How those officers are deployed could have a major affect on our communities. Meanwhile, the HRA has written to the candidates seeking their reactions and proposals. May be Onlinefocus could run a series of profiles on the candidates?