Rochdale police column: Working with the community

Inspector Robert MacGregor, of the Rochdale East Neighbourhood Policing Team, on what the police are doing to tackle local issues across the borough.

This week he discusses working with the community.

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I have been the dedicated Rochdale East Neighbourhood Inspector now for 18 months. Over that time, a lot of my work is based on what incidents are being reported day to day, where patrols need to be carried out based on crime trends, and, much like any job, general admin, risk assessments and HR management.

I do love my job and even the day to day work can be rewarding, but what really makes me love my work is the longer-term projects which I can get involved in planning and supporting.

These are often projects which I do some work on and then put to one side and pick up again a few weeks down the line when I have some free time. I should say at the outset that I consider myself hugely privileged to police the areas which I do, and very lucky to have a local authority, housing providers, and other charities and community organisations who go out of their way to help me constantly.

One of the main pieces of work this year has been supporting the Milnrow and Newhey Streetwatch.

Whilst it is community-led and independent of police, we have a role in providing crime data, attending meetings, and supporting funding applications. I have also submitted a successful funding application for the Littleborough Boxing Club and worked with the club and Littleborough Neighbourhood PC Lucas McGregor to design a referral scheme, so that children who are seen as displaying indicators that they may become frequent missing people, or who are vulnerable, can be funded to take part in lessons.

I have also attempted other activity which has failed. For example, the launch of online neighbourhood meetings seemed as though it was an obviously good idea, and yet it led to lower interest and engagement within communities. I still think there is a place for online meetings, but the original plan failed, and I am comfortable admitting that.

I thought it might be of some interest to know what the projects the team will be working on over the next 12 months will be:

• To continue to work with Streetwatch and support an expansion of the scheme to other neighbourhoods where a local community member is willing to take on the role of co-ordinator.
• To trial an application on both computer and mobile which allows the community to click on a location on a map of their neighbourhood and to flag up ASB issues to police and partners.
• To work with the local authority to look into the possibility of renovating an unused building in a village in the Pennine neighbourhood area to be a community hub/police post.
• To share more data on crimes with the community, initially using mapping software to highlight the approximate location of any residential burglaries within 48 hours of them occurring.
• To develop a Community Mobile App which allows community members to discuss quality of life issues, crime, and other events in their area.  
• To trial a system whereby private CCTV footage of crimes can be instantly shared with local officers through an online portal.
• To identify opportunities to increase our funding of community groups using money seized under proceeds of crime to improve the quality of life for residents.

Operationally, I am determined that we will also improve the way we work together with partners to address anti-social behaviour. The police have been under pressure financially for the last decade and, to cope with this, have focused on threat/harm/risk to manage the limited resources which is absolutely right, but I think we can make more effective use of our Police Community Support Officers to tackle some of this casual disorderly behaviour in our neighbourhoods.

I am going to begin that process by having a fortnightly meeting at which the Rochdale East Anti-Social Behaviour Officer for the council, a Neighbourhood Sergeant, and two PCSOs review reports we have received, agree priorities within the neighbourhood, and a joint plan for how they will be tackled. I want to be open about our success or failures in doing this and so I will publish those priorities and actions taken (minus any personal details) so that you can judge our effectiveness and that we are looking at the right issues.

I have been told many times in my career that “I pay your wages” - usually by someone who has had a few too many, but I am always conscious that you do pay my wages, and the wages of the staff I work with.

My performance is assessed like any employee, by my own managers, but most importantly I am accountable to you. Throughout the next year I will share as much information on the issues we are having, and our successes and challenges as I can.

You are always welcome to email me should you wish Robert.MacGregor@gmp.pnn.police.uk

Thank you as always for your support.