PCC Action day Killer on the loose

I spent today touring the region during a hectic but rewarding action day speaking to members of the public about their views on the role of Police and Crime Commissioner.  What was astonishing was the varying degrees of experiences of crime, members of the public had.  I spoke to one gentleman on Gosforth High Street whose stepson had been stabbed to death.  The offender got 4 years imprisonment and was out after only serving 2 and half years.  The family had to live with seeing this offender walking the streets freely whilst they were still grieving for their son. 

I toured the region in my bright orange 1972 VW campervan, which certainly seemed to capture the attention of the public.  I spoke to residents and business owners in Sea Road, Fulwell, Sunderland.  The first resident I met had just had her car broken into overnight.  The offenders smashed the side window.  She phoned the police that morning and they said that they couldn’t send anyone until 8pm that night.  As you can imagine she didn’t think much of that at all and I agreed with her that it was unacceptable. This is exactly the sort of thing we need to be telling the Chief Constable.  Victims of crime deserve a better service from the police.  The first business I went into Barlow’s the fruit shop had just been burgled during the week.  The business owner had been left with a £400 bill and the offenders had stolen petty cash of £40.00.

Many residents had some good ideas about crime prevention.  Sea Road was one of the few shopping areas without CCTV and business owners wanted to see more parking bays for customers feeling that people stopping to shop would put shop lifters off if they thought more drivers were paying attention rather then just driving through the area without stopping.

Later in the day I visited the Sub 21 Football anti youth disorder scheme in Wallsend with the elected Mayor Linda Arkley.  As usual 40 boys turned up to play on the same pitch making it difficult to identify who was on whose team.  Through the generosity of START FITNESS sports shop in Newcastle Phil was able to donate 40 coloured bibs so that the lads could identify who was on each team. 

The day ended with a general walkabout in Tynemouth with Linda Arkley talking to visitors and local residents.  I distributed many of his latest magazines 40,000 of which will be circulated across the region.