Help us – we’re constantly under siege by youths (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

" WEST Mercia Police will consult Wyre Forest residents four times more often in a bid to better determine how people feel about crime and policing in their area.

Every year the force carries out the crime and safety survey to establish local people’s views on key issues, such as crime and anti social behaviour. Starting on Monday, this surveying will now be undertaken quarterly rather than annually.

Residents living across the West Mercia area, including those from the Wyre Forest, are selected on a random basis and asked to complete a postal survey that seeks their opinions on a range of issues, including:

Their opinion of West Mercia Police.

Experience of dealing with the police in the last 12 months.

Local neighbourhood issues.

Worry about crime.

Experiences of being a victim of crime.

Experiences of reporting crime to West Mercia Police.

The survey also asks residents to state what they believe to be the priorities in their local area which the police and partners should be tackling.
Chief Superintendent Nick Mason, head of strategy, performance and communications, said: “The crime and safety partnership survey allows people to tell us honestly what they think about local policing in their area.
“Stepping up this surveying to a quarterly basis means we can get a better idea of any emerging trends in people’s opinions and we can react more quickly to what they are telling us.
“Improving the confidence and satisfaction of our communities is key for West Mercia Police - consulting local residents on a more frequent basis will help us and our partner agencies react to their needs and provide them with a better service.
“We are also interested in the level of people’s worries and fears about crime because these can often be out of proportion to actual crime levels.
“This is particularly important across West Mercia as it remains an area of low levels of crime and anti social behaviour.
“Sometimes problems exist that do need to be tackled directly. However on other occasions more visible patrolling and improved communication between the police and the community are the key to providing reassurance.
“If you get a survey in the post, please fill it out and return it to us. It’s an opportunity for you to shape the way the Wyre Forest district is policed."

This was as reported by the Kidderminster SHUTTLE on 25th June 2009.

So - if you get a survey form - let them know what you think.

So that they can continue to ignore you!!!!!!

Instead of picking people at random why now allow residents to request a survery form? Most of these I would imagine just get binned. Having people fill them in who actually want to air their constructive views would be far more valuable than the present system. Also it would save a little money too. Or am I being a little cynical that this is part of the plan, that sending out forms to random addresses they know the likelyhood of getting a strong and positive response is debatable? My dad recieved one, completed and returned it but he is elderly and housebound so his answers would not really give any sort of a realistic picture of policing in his area as he never goes anywhere. Needless to say his answers were in the main 'don't know'.

Call the Police Regarding yobs come on where were they when wanted in the Cathedral grounds, attending other duties some where,collect all the info you can and pass it on ,sure save these over work coppers getting of their back sides, and then what happens ,you've got it NOT a B----- thing

This situation is a direct reflection on the local beat officers. Police Officers are there to do the job of "Policing" not to be social workers as many of them seem to think that they are.
If an attendance at a Parish Council meeting could not have been worked in with some family support for the young man, it is an extreme pity.
I have a word of advice for the Parish Council and residents, plainly little is being done. So, first send a direct letter of complaint to the Chief Constable at Hindlip Hall, then, if that does no good, send a letter of complaint to Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary at the Home Office saying that the local Constabulary are totally indifferent to your complaints.
Would guarantee some action.In the meantime, the local beat officers should start doing the job they are paid to do.

It's not enough to complain to the police. They are often effectively unable to prosecute or obtain ASBO's naming these little gits, because those making the initial complaint are unwilling to formalise it by way of making a statement or by standing up in court.

In communities where residents have gone the extra mile, supported by the police, anti-social behaviour has been dealt with more effectively.

It is an important principle of the British justice system that a person should not be convicted of a crime without evidence proving this and without witnesses, the police cannot take these cases to court.

So, what do they do to solve the problem, then, without the support of the victims? I know it's tempting to shoot the little buggers but it's just not allowed.

Maggie, some of the "old style" policemen, ie those that knew all about their jobs and didn't put social work before Policing would know at a stroke what to do - and, what is more, they would do it.
This problem is what "basic" police work is all about and all this gobbdegook about ASBOS, statements, British justice etc etc etc is just nonsence.
Some years ago, all Police recruits were taught about the "Barbed Wire Act", that could be found in no law books, it was not taught at Training College but by senior PCs to the young rookies on the beat. It solved most things and was particularly good at getting the better of these type of troublemakers.
Where there is a will, there is a way for the police and unfortunately, it seems in Worcester, they have lost the will.
Had this happened not that ,many years ago, the local beat officer (note, not "officers") would have been called up by the boss and told in no uncertain terms to sort it out, soonest or his comfortable little world as a beat officer would fall in. This is down to the beat officers and there should be no excuses.

For all of who are interested to ensure that Battenhall/St Peter's public spaces are safe and enjoyable for the vast majority of the law-abiding folk in the area AND to support the hard-pressed neighbours who have to put up with the dreadful behaviour of a small number of others, not necessarily from this area, please be encouraged to become involved in the local PACT:
http://www.westmerci
a.police.uk/localpol
icing/southworcs/bat
tenhall_st_peters/in
dex.htm

Please do come along and support our community leaders and those responsible for keeping the peace of the area.

So -

From my opening comment where I reproduced the West Mercia corporate diatribe, people seem to have expressed their views of what they think of the Force and the service they provide irregardless of any survey sent to a select few.

I wonder if the powers that be will be taking any notice of that!

In the meantime, I strongly advise any residents subjected to any persistent anti-social behaviour to bombard the police with reports - especially at the time that it's taking place. This WILL show on their figures and WILL highlight problem areas and SHOULD make them accountable to both the public and any Inspectorate or Auditing (but they wouldn't like you to do that!).

I would strongly suggest that everyone follows Hotfuzz's suggestion and bombards the Police with complaints of ASB.

We had a quite useless Beat Officer (who shall remain nameless), but he/she has since been replaced by a fantastically 'on-the-ball' BO who has been great.

He/She has suggest calling EVERY time ASB is being committed as this is the only way that priority can be given to your plight.