CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL

CYNGOR TREF Y WAUN

 

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING HELD 11th February 2009

 

Present

Mr Barry Evans (Chairman), Mrs H J Spragg, Mrs J Allen, Mrs C Gough, Mr R Jones, Mr N James,

Mr D Richards,  Mr  J Vant, Mr F Hemmings. 

Mr S A Hughes, Clerk to the Council. Cllr Terry Evans and Ian Roberts, Wrexham CBC local members.

 

Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs R Smith, J Pierce and I Roberts.

 

131. COMMUNITY POLICING.

The Chairman gave a warm welcome to Inspector Lisa Surridge and made the point that there seemed a lack of police presence in Chirk, the officers are not seen out and about as they were when the PSCO’s were first appointed.

Other members of the Council concurred with this and mentioned that the elderly more confident and better assured when the officers are on hand and able to be seen and at times meet and converse with them. Another point was the difficulty in contacting officers and perceived lack of response leading to the non reporting of incidents.

 

The Inspector informed the Council that she obtains monthly reports on the daily work of each of her officers so that she can confirm their activities.  

In recent weeks she has altered the pattern of their work to give more time to the times when crimes are happening and during the past two months crimes figures have reduced. 

Patrols are to be carried out in priority zones that have been established at meetings with the local members and Sgt Whibberley.

 

Councillors were also concerned that the local Community Beat Manager and the PCSO’s were not on duty due to annual leave and maternity leave with one PCSO to deal with local matters in Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley.  The Inspector said that the CBM would be back on duty after his annual leave and one PCSO will return from maternity leave on the 18th inst.

Members also mentioned that 2/3 years ago the community of Chirk agreed to an increase in the police rate to provide additional police officers including Chirk but rather than have more police officers as promised there are less. 

Inspector Surridge that her compliment of Officers for community policing in Chirk was

1 Police Constable (Community Beat Manager) and 2 PCSO’s with 1 CBM and 1 PCSO serving the Ceiriog Valley but based in Chirk Police Station. Cards giving names and contact details of the officers are to be posted to each household in the area.

 

Inspector Surridge informed the Council that a new process “Quest” was on trial with regard to dealing with calls to the police.  Officers would be tasked with the specific duty to deal with all calls.  If the complaints were not urgent an appointment would be made in order for an officer to visit the complainant and deal with the matter.  So far the trial was successful and could be put out to each region.

 

Members mentioned other problems and complaints that had been drawn to attention on many occasions such as speeding, dog fouling, littering, anti-social behavior, underage drinking, unlicensed illegal cars and motor bikes.

 

Inspector Surridge said that from the meeting there were several issues for her and her officers to be concerned with that will be taken up.

 

The Chairman thanked Inspector Surridge for attending the meeting and explaining various things about local policing issues and taking on points made by the councillors.

 

 

Signed R Barry Evans Chairman                                                                                      25th February 2009