Thames Valley Police, Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber visited the communities in the Danesborough and Walton ward on 2 August - at the invitation of ward councillor Cllr David Hopkins - to witness first-hand the many issues that residents and the Parish Councils have raised.
Many of these issues were related to MK Highways (speeding and traffic levels) in particular but other issues involved concerns over areas where drug taking, and other anti-social matters have become a concern (especially on the fringes of the Greensands Ridge/Brickhill Woods).
Other matters of concern that Matthew has undertaken to follow through included:
· Car cruising on roads in Eagle Farm South in Wavendon and parts of Wavendon Gate and Old Farm Park in Walton
· Thefts from parked cars (including catalytic converters)
· Considering the installation of Average Speed Cameras (especially on Brickhill Street*)
Matthew Barber offered positive support for the establishing of Community Speed Watch Groups and Neighbourhood Watch Groups where residents demanded them.
Renewed support and focus will be put in place to tackle neighbourhood crime, including shoplifting in stores across the Parish and a greater focus on rural crime in the patch via the TVP Rural Crime Task Force.
Earlier this year it was announced that Thames Valley Police were doubling the number of neighbourhood police officers across the Force and in addition more Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are being recruited. Work is underway to address concerns over the current arrangements for online reporting of crimes and the time taken to answer calls on the 101 service. It is also intended to improve regular reporting back to the community on police activity and local crime statistics.
Finally, the use of CCTV at crime hot spots was discussed and is to be enhanced across the TVP area with a new CCTV partnership being launch by the PCC in Milton Keynes next year.
Cllr David Hopkins commented ‘We are grateful to Matthew for spending a day in the ward, talking with local residents and seeing first hand many of the issues of concern to our local residents. I am hopeful that many of the concerns are being or are about to be addressed and we look forward to an early change in policy on the likes of the installation of Average Speed cameras that could make a real difference not just in Danesborough & Walton, but across the whole of Milton Keynes.’
Matthew Barber commented ‘The Crimefighters plan that I unveiled earlier this year will put neighbourhood policing at the heart of the work Thames Valley Police do, seeking to build confidence in policing by tackling the issues that matter most to the public.’
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