Residents Jam Into Police Meeting

Tonight a special meeting organised by the Local Area Neighbourhood Arrangement took place at Ashmore Park Community Association meeting rooms on Griffith Drive.

The meeting was arranged following complaints by neighbours in Snape Road Gurnard Close and Bucknall Road.

The complaints were targeted on the use of the walkways between Coppice Farm and Ashmore Park by people engaged in anti social behaviour and other issues including criminal damage.Some other residents from Ashmore Park also attended.

The meeting was also populated by Anti Social Behaviour officials both from Wolverhampton Homes and Wolverhampton City Council.

Also in attendance were Inspector Jonathon Turley of Wednesfield Police and other members of his police team.

Inspector Turley opened the meeting by suggesting that this problem was not just a police problem. He explained that he thought that the vast majority of youths on the estate were 'good kids' and were in the main 'very polite' to him as he undertook his duties.

He commented that there were many allegations being made against these local youths, including criminal damage, anti social behaviour and the illegal use of alcohol and drugs.

Residents who were very agitated by the incidents were quick to voice their concerns, adding their own experiences and calling for the police to take action to quell the unwanted nuisance.

Inspector Turley continually laboured the point that the police needed evidence before they could act and they needed proof to go with the evidence.

It was reported that despite a number of anti social diaries being distributed to neighbours in Bucknall Road there had been a very poor response and the diaries had not been returned for action.

At this point some residents became very vocal arguing that they wanted the police to act against the youths. Some indicated that they had private cctv footage but the police were reluctant to act on this evidence.

One after another a number of residents stood and set out their experiences. Many were visibly frustrated by the response that Inspector Turley was giving.

There was a very large body of support for the return of the 'domehawk' police cctv surveillance camera. Inspector Turley strongly emphasised that the camera could not stay in this situation for ever, and that cctv was not the long term answer.

He told the audience of around 50 people that had jammed into the meeting, he had increased the number of police patrols, over November and December. He admitted that the number of incidents that had taken place during this period on Ashmore Park was way above those that had previously been reported.

Inspector Turley again laboured the point that the police needed to be able to identify the youths and have the evidence before action could be taken.

Almost an hour into the meeting and residents were very frustrated. One after another they stood and explained what had been happening to them. The catalogue of incidents (some explaining that they had suffered for many years) were expressed.

Incidents including, stone throwing,noise,broken windows .Damaged cars even arson were reported at the meeting. Others told of illegal drinking and allegations of drug misuse, with one lady explaining that a relative had found a number of small packages of drugs in the garden during the last month!

Inspector Turley responded that he would arrange for the 'domehawk' camera to be return to Bucknall Road, he said he would continue to task his police team with increased patrols.

He informed the meeting that he would also get his police team into Coppice High School to speak with years 9,10,11 and "try to get the message across that youths running amok across the estate would not be tolerated."

He confirmed to the meeting that the police knew who the main offenders were, as he once again responded to vocal objections that the police were not doing enough to arrest and charge these offenders.

Councillor Phil Bateman said " The police took a verbal battering tonight because of the situation that seems to have been exacerbated by events running up to Christmas and the New Year.

Much of the criticism they took tonight has been brought upon by their own reluctance to inform the public of what they are doing to keep the Queen's Peace.

Inspector Turley has put on extra police patrols, they have caught youngsters vandalising cars and arrested them. But they just do not tell the very people they are supposed to be protecting and serving!

I have argued long and hard with them over this. They have their own web sites and an interested media. But they continue to ignore peoples requests to know what is happening to law and order in their neighbourhoods. Inspector Turley responded saying that he did not think that people would read the Wolverhampton East Police Web Site!

I spoke at the meeting informing the audience that I lived in the community and that the police were their own worst enemies for not informing the public of the actions they are taking.

The fact is that I as a local Councillor get very frustrated because the police very often ignore even my attempts at gaining community information. I hope tonight's meeting pressed home the point that providing information to the police for their action, is very much a two way street.

The public have every right to be informed of the developments that are taking place in their community. The style and the actual of policing also falls into that category.

Tonight I have written to Leisure Service at the City Council informing them that some of the trees and bushes that surround the access to the walkway linking Bucknall Road and Gurnard Close should be immediately removed.

This would allow better sight lines and would remove the hiding places for youngsters who hide their illicit booze in the trees and shrubs at this point.

Residents want this to happen quickly.

They were however split on the other call which was for the City to close the access point. There was a lot of intense pain and agony in this meeting for residents. A further report back meeting is scheduled to take place in several weeks time.

Incidentally Conservative Councillor David Bourne attended but as usual never made a contribution. Not surprising as he lives in leafier parts of the city well away from Wednesfield North! Councillor Quarnby was again absent but she also doesn't live in our community either!"