Warding off crime

Facing the people: Some of those involved in setting up the meetings are Richard Forrester (Wyke Area Team), Mark Charlton (Citysafe), Alastair Shaw (Northern Area director), Richard Parker (Community Engagement), Steve Fraser (Humberside Fire Service),Gavin Beresford (Continuous Improvement), John Mabbett (Humberside Police), Phil Jackson (Humberside Fire Service) and Ian Dixon (Humberside Police)

Tracy Harsley

Shaping the future safety of your Neighbourhood

What would be your top three priorities for reducing crime and making people feel safer in your local community?
Would it be getting rid of drug dealing? Cracking down on burglaries, thefts from cars, graffiti, arson attacks and vandalism? Or managing the antisocial behaviour you see in your community?
These are questions that will be debated at public meetings called 'Face the People, sessions, in all of the electoral wards across the city from February (although some of the forum meetings began last month) in various locations, including community centres and church halls.
By going along, local residents will get the chance to air their views about community safety to other residents, police officers, police community support officers, and Hull community wardens.
Hull City Council antisocial behaviour officers and community participation officers will also attend.
In a nutshell, all the 'official, people that matter will be there, and they want to hear what you have to say, so they can work with the communities they serve to bring about positive change. At each meeting, three priorities for action will be chosen, with agencies and residents working together to find the right solutions.
The meetings, held every three months in each ward, have been set up by the Community Safety Partnership of One Hull.
"We want residents to come along to the ward meetings and tell us their feelings and concerns about community safety in their area," said Tracy Harsley, community safety manager at Citysafe, the multi-agency crime-fighting unit, which is part of the partnership.
"It could be anything, from antisocial behaviour and drug dealing to graffiti, waste fires and vandalism.
"If there are issues that are making local people feel vulnerable where they live, the meetings are a great opportunity to talk about them."
For information about dates, times and venues of meetings, contact your area committee. Their telephone numbers are listed in the back pages of this magazine.