E-mail to Thames Valley Police: Operation Confidence – Feedback
I sent the below e-mail to the Milton Keynes Thames Valley Police on their official e-mail address on 26/01/2010 and have not had a reply yet (today is 18/02/2010).
What more proof do I need that their visit and marketing regarding ‘Operation Confidence’ is just PR (hot air). I have no confidence in them…
Hello,
Last night I was visited by someone (I think she was a Community Safety Warden) who asked me a few questions and gave me a leaflet which led me to your website http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh-tvp-pol-area-N338. From that site I have seen http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh-tvp-pol-area-nh-newsitem?id=116225&nh=New%20Bradwell%20/%20Stantonbury which I assume is why I got the visit.
I would just like to give you some brief feedback on this:
- This is the first time in 7 years of living at my address (Bancroft Park) than I have been visited by someone from the police force. I think that it is a really good idea and would like everyone to be visited at least once a year
- It would have been far better if her visit was announced (by e-mail or post). That way I could have thought about her questions in advance and given better answers, ensured I was in, not having dinner at the time, etc.
- I would suggest that questionnaire itself was far too basic and therefore of no practical use, so I believe it to be just a PR exercise (or at the very least poorly thought out). It would have been far better to post the questionnaire to residents in advance, or have it on a website and completed in advance. The officer could then have collated the results in advance spoken to residents about the top issues. Plus if the officer must ask the residents questions, it should preferably be entered directly onto a PDA and not onto paper (faster and more efficient)
- I think most people when handed a leaflet will not look at the website, especially as the leaflet did not have a direct link to the URL http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh-tvp-pol-area-N338 – it took some navigation to actually find that URL. Plus the site/scheme is misleading because it mentions the New Bradwell and Stantonbury neighbourhoods and I live in Bancroft Park, so at a first glance it would appear to not apply to me
- The website does not state if it is possible to report non-urgent crimes (such as people without car insurance, drug usage, noisy neighbours, etc.) via e-mail. I would rather send a quick e-mail or complete a form than spend time on the phone. For example 2 issues that I would like to report are:
<I have removed this from my blog post – I don’t want the offending neighbours to read it>
- The leaflet said that victims of crime will be informed of the results of when a criminal is punished. 2-3 years ago a wheel was stolen from my car (Alfa Romeo, registration: <hidden from blog post>) from a public car park, near the MK police station. I reported the crime, then later found the 2 people who stole the wheel (who were in a stolen car). So I called 999 and the police came and retrieved the car, stolen vehicle and later my wheel. I was informed that one of the people was let off, but one was prosecuted. I was not told of the final outcome – i.e. was the person who was prosecuted, punished (prison, fine, etc.)? It would be nice to know because I have been a victim of several crimes and have not had a good result on any of them, which means that I am less inclined to report them because it has been is a waste of time
- The A4 document that I was given last night contained a number of typographical errors
The leaflet also asked for feedback from residents on how offenders should be penalised in terms of community service. I don’t think that is a deterrent. So as well as the standard community service I would like offenders who commit crimes such as theft, drugs, etc. plus more serious crimes:
- Made to have a tour of MK prison and to meet some prisoners
- Shamed by being made to stand in the MK shopping centre, dressed in orange shirts and trousers (I doubt the council would approve this but I would like to see it!)
Please feel free to reply with any comments, etc.
Regards.
Paul Richardson