Submit your questions – what do you want us to ask the local police inspectors?

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  • #140267

    D R
    Keymaster

    Two more questions on NPS (previously known as legal highs) – final ones on this topic:

    1. With the spice issue has anyone thought to ask or find out where they are getting it from and raid the suppliers?

    2. Are there spice problems in Rhos or Llangollen or just Wrexham Town Centre?

    #140268

    D R
    Keymaster

    Another question / statement:

    Please note that in asking the questions I appreciate what hard work the whole Police Force undertake and the pressures on resources, together with the targets they are given which do not necessary reflect the real needs of the communities they serve.

    In view of the current limited resources of the Police Force and the potential cuts by WCBC if the PCSOs are reduced through the forthcoming budget decisions, does the panel think people will take to making Citizens Arrests using their powers under Section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).

    Please can you advise what your view is on this and how does NWP respond to calls from members of the public who have made Citizens Arrests and how would they respond to increased numbers of such calls?

    #140269

    LadyK
    Participant

    PW: A general question acknowledging your finite resources. When a Neighbourhood Watch group notify PCSOs of a community issue is there an standard follow-up / communication procedure that Police and PCSOs should follow to bring the matter to a conclusion and thereby communicate that to the people or lead person involved? There is a particular issue, however this is a general question for future reference.

    #140270

    D R
    Keymaster

    Question –

    There is much talk of cybercrime and knocking out criminals gangs using special policing methods over the internet. Surely this is the stuff for specialists in HQ not general Officers who should be out and about. The whole community, not just older people appreciate seeing Police on the ground and surely a visible enforcement presence is a potent deterrent for those with a criminal history and those who are teetering on the brink of committing a crime of some kind.

    Crime, including drugs crime is run not just by supply, but via the laws of supply and demand. I realise that demand is not necessarily knocked out by arrests and cautions, however this does make people consider their actions more seriously and jail time does give people further opportunities to consider the serious consequences of their offences to their lives and the lives of others and make a U-turn.

    Does NWP really think that a softer approach to drugs crime is really going to help communities marred by it and for that matter those struggling with addiction. After all, addiction to a drug comes from an initial wrong choice to take a substance that is addictive. If the consequences of making a wrong choice are minimal then the probability of having a go is increased.

    #140271

    R T
    Keymaster

    [quote quote=140263]Question for Inspector Wycherley:

    The town centre, everyday has groups of people, visibly under the effect of drugs and alcohol in the entrances to empty shops, bus station , green space Rhosddu and outside Richmond House Grosvenor Road.

    They are very intimidating and are affecting trade in the town. What are you powers to deal with them , how would you like to see your powers strengthened?[/quote]

    PW: Sadly everyone in the UK seems to have similar problems . This is not a Wrexham centric issue. I explained earlier about the ‘Gold Group’ in our crime disorder reduction partnership and we have had success in terms of getting people into recovery or the criminal justice system.
    We have the cohort together twice in Rhosddu where we have arranged all service providers to engage with them, housing, substance misuse, all the third sector homeless charities, so any assistance they need was in that building at that time. I then told that cohort that if they did not engage with the services there is a consequence as I had a wider responsibility to the general public of Wrexham.
    There have been a few successes, progress is slower than I had hoped, but we will continue working with our partners to resolve this issue.
    I am not passing the buck, but it is a fact this is not soley a police issue to resolve, it is a society issue. I am happy to play our part. I do not have all the answers.
    It is critical that our partners, health, third sector support services and Wrexham Council work together to bring about the desired change.

    #140272

    R T
    Keymaster

    [quote quote=140267]Two more questions on NPS (previously known as legal highs) – final ones on this topic:

    1. With the spice issue has anyone thought to ask or find out where they are getting it from and raid the suppliers?

    2. Are there spice problems in Rhos or Llangollen or just Wrexham Town Centre?[/quote]

    PW: When this problem first came to our attention our intelligence was not well defined in knowing where it came from. It is better defined now, and have conducted successful warrants where the product has been seized. This stance will continue as we go forward.
    One thing to be aware of though, when we did the last successful warrant, the street price went from £5 to £50 a bag in a day due to supply issue.
    The incidents of shop lifting rose significantly in the following week as the cohort turned to crime to fund it. The knock on effect if a much bigger one than is realised.

    SO on no2: There are not anywhere near the issues in Rhos with regards to spice.

    #140273

    bubble
    Participant

    [quote quote=140272]

    Two more questions on NPS (previously known as legal highs) – final ones on this topic:

    1. With the spice issue has anyone thought to ask or find out where they are getting it from and raid the suppliers?

    2. Are there spice problems in Rhos or Llangollen or just Wrexham Town Centre?

    PW: When this problem first came to our attention our intelligence was not well defined in knowing where it came from. It is better defined now, and have conducted successful warrants where the product has been seized. This stance will continue as we go forward.
    One thing to be aware of though, when we did the last successful warrant, the street price went from £5 to £50 a bag in a day due to supply issue.
    The incidents of shop lifting rose significantly in the following week as the cohort turned to crime to fund it. The knock on effect if a much bigger one than is realised.

    SO on no2: There are not anywhere near the issues in Rhos with regards to spice.[/quote]

    If the users are turning to crime to fund their habit, perhaps you need to also focus on the users – on the demand not just the supply. But these are the people you choose not to “criminalise” for drugs offences because they do not have spare cash to pay their fines. Why does NWP persist in taking a soft approach to the addicts themselves?

    #140274

    R T
    Keymaster

    [quote quote=140268]Another question / statement:

    Please note that in asking the questions I appreciate what hard work the whole Police Force undertake and the pressures on resources, together with the targets they are given which do not necessary reflect the real needs of the communities they serve.

    In view of the current limited resources of the Police Force and the potential cuts by WCBC if the PCSOs are reduced through the forthcoming budget decisions, does the panel think people will take to making Citizens Arrests using their powers under Section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).

    Please can you advise what your view is on this and how does NWP respond to calls from members of the public who have made Citizens Arrests and how would they respond to increased numbers of such calls?[/quote]

    PW: I have 25 years experience and have not encountered a citizens arrest. I don’t think incidents of citizens arrest will increase. If the citizen arrest is unlawful the person making the arrest may be found liable for assault or false imprisonment.
    My view is leave the arrests to us. Do not mix up citizens arrests with shoplifters being detained by store security which is quite different.

    #140275

    R T
    Keymaster

    [quote quote=140269]PW: A general question acknowledging your finite resources. When a Neighbourhood Watch group notify PCSOs of a community issue is there an standard follow-up / communication procedure that Police and PCSOs should follow to bring the matter to a conclusion and thereby communicate that to the people or lead person involved? There is a particular issue, however this is a general question for future reference.[/quote]

    SO: I fully expect that officer to maintain the dialogue and come back with any updates and conclusion. I would be surprised if that did not happen. If that is a specific issue then please contact me directly, and I will ensure the lines of communication are sorted.

    #140276

    D R
    Keymaster

    And finally –

    Things are worse than the good old days. Compared to when you started out, is there more crime, more being acted upon, more awareness of whats going on with mobile phones and social media, or are things bad?

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