Police shake-up
to put more bobbies
on the beat
by David Skentelbery
A MAJOR shake-up of police across Cheshire will mean more officers visible on the streets of Warrington, police chiefs claim.
Officers will be in close contact with local people and working to provide long-term solutions to crime and disorder problems, according to Cheshire Police.
The reorganisation of the county force follows a lengthy study of what the public wants and what type of policing is most effective.
It takes into account increasing demand for the police – the number of 999 calls rose from 12,500 to 15,000 between March and April this year – and falling public confidence despite improving police performance.
The present six police divisions – one of which is Warrington – will be scrapped and replaced with 18 Neighbourhood Policing Units (NPUs).
They will concentrate on preventing and detecting local crime and targeting offenders, building contacts in the local community, resolving problems by working with local organisations and individualsand providing officers who are visible and accessible.
Each NPU will be commanded by an inspector and consist of Community Action Teams concentrated on particular towns or rural areas, supported by specialist investigation teams. The number of CATs in an NPU will vary, depending on the size and character of the location.
CAT policing was introduced in Cheshire a few years ago and has proved very successful in providing long-term answers to crime and disorder problems. CAT officers, including Community Support Officers , are highly visible, and become well known on their own particular “patch”. They build local contacts, become familiar with local issues and cultivate a flow of information between the public and the Police.
They deal with problems such as disorder, drinking, drug abuse and drug dealing, then follow through to provide permanent solutions to these problems, usually working with partner agencies.
The Investigation Teams will consist of plain clothes and uniform officers, working closely with the CAT officers to identify and target offenders involved in local high-volume crime, such as burglary and vehicle crime.
The Force will also be split into three Areas; Northern, Eastern and Western and each area will have a Targeted Patrol Team, a Specialist Investigation Unit, a Demand Management Unit , a Public Protection Unit , an Intelligence Unit, a Pro Active Policing Unit, a Partnership Development Unit and a Custody Investigation Team. Each Area will be commanded by a chief superintendent .
Targeted Patrol Teams will consist of 405 officers across the county. They will respond to incidents – including incidents on the roads- which need a police presence immediately, or within an hour.
But to provide more local policing, the number of officers carrying out fast response is being considerably reduced. An emergency response will only be provided where it will make a real difference.
Specialist Investigation Units will investigate serious crimes such as wounding and assaults and fraud. They will carry out inquiries into fatal and serious road accidents.
The Custody Investigation Team will prepare cases from a hand over package drawn up by the arresting officer, and interview criminals in custody.
Public Protection Units will deal with child protection and family liaison work. Intelligence Units will gather and process information and play an important part in selecting targets.
A Force Major Incident Team will carry out all murder investigations in Cheshire. Although it will be based at Winsford Headquarters, FMIT will work from three sites – one probably in Warrington.
“Quiet pile-driving
starts in town
by Terry Johnson
A SPECIAL “noise reducing” Japanese piling rig has been brought to Warrington to put in the foundations for the town’s new bus station.
The hydraulic technique used by Temporary Piling Equipment – the first of this type used in the UK – pushes concrete piles into the ground, rather than “hammering”.
This cuts noise levels alongside the Golden Square shopping centre and prevents traffic disruption.
Concrete piles are needed to ensure the site, at the corner of Midland Way and Winwick Street, is able to carry the weight of bus station structures.
When building work is completed, the bus station will move to this corner of the shops centre so that Golden Square can “bulge”.
It is hoped that the shops expansion can get under way in February.
Terry Waite presents
choir in prison
by Terry Johnson
FORMER terrorist hostage Terry Waite will present a concert of Christmas carols for prisoners and staff of HM Prison, Risley, Warrington, tomorrow(Sunday).
The church envoy who was captured and held in chains in Beirut is Patron of the 100-strong Warrington Male Voice Choir, which has also performed in Styal Prison.
It is the only English choir to sing in Irish jails – in Dublin’s Mountjoy and also Castlerea Prison, where IRA prisoners were held.
Choir chairman, Barrie Johnson, said: “Our initiative began as a means of confronting the men of violence in Ireland following the 1993 bombing of Warrington town-centre.
“It is now about supporting the prison authorities in extending care and rehabilitation for those detained. Prison regimes are far tougher than most people realise. Our choir brings some Christmas cheer”.
The Mayor of Warrington, Coun Ted Lafferty, and representatives of the Butler Trust, which is involved in prisoner and staff welfare, will attend the concert.
Woman, 90, “critical”
after road accident
by staff reporter
POLICE at Warrington are appealing for witnesses of a road accident in which a 90-year-old woman pedestrian was struck by a car.
The accident was in London Road, Appleton, outside the entrance to Warrington Golf Club.
A white Ford Fiesta car travelling in the direction of Northwich and driven by an 83-year-old local man was in collision with the woman as she was attempting to cross the road.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Warrington Hospital where her condition is said to be “critical.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Sgt Mike Jones on 01925 613813.
Ombudsman rejects claims
over flats development
by David Skentelbery
THE Local Government Ombudsman has decided not to investigate a complaint arising from the controversial granting of planning consent for a three-storey block of flats in Whitefield Road, Stockton Heath, near Warrington.
A resident had complained that the borough council had acted unreasonably in granting permission for the building and that neighbours’ amenities had been reduced as a result.
But the Ombudsman, in a letter to the complainant, said: “I think the essence of your disagreement with the council is that you believe the balance of arguments should have resulted in refusal of planning permission.
“This is not, however, a matter for the Ombudsman. Having identified the issues, relevant policies and responses to consultation, it is for the council, not the Ombudsman, to decide where the weight of the argument lies.” The development in Whitefield Road has been surrounded by controversy from the outset, when, according to neighbours, a bulldozer arrived early one morning and demolished an attractive Edwardian house in just 75 minutes.
Later an application to build the flats was approved by the borough council, despite opposition from Stockton Heath and Walton parish councils and nearly 50 residents.
Neighbours claimed the building was too large for the site, was institutional in appearance and dominated adjoining properties.
The complaint to the Ombudsman included a claim that the planning decision was taken following a meeting between senior planners and the developer and that officers, having originally indicated that the plans were unaccepta
ble, later recommended they be approved.
But the Ombudsman said officers had gone to great lengths to ensure all the complainants’ concerns were addressed in meeting with objectors and correspondence. Members of the development control committee had also delayed a decision to visit the site.
The Ombudsman said the borough council had done nothing wrong.
“There is nothing improper about meetings between the developer and senior planning staff. Impact on neighbours’ amenity was properly considered, whatever the debate between the developer and officers.”
Planning officer John Groves said the case illustrated the increasing use of the Ombudsman to dispute the principle of decisions, rather than to challenge decisions made through incorrect process. It had involved officers in considerable time and effort in providing information tot he Ombudsman but, despite the controversial nature of the development, the council had been able to show the application was dealt with in a correct, professional manner.
Council offers advice
on electrical jobs
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Borough Council’s building control team is offering guidance to DIY enthusiasts, home-owners and electricians on the roll out of tough new electrical safety laws.
Each year an average of 10 people are killed and 750 seriously hurt in power-related accidents.
New laws from January 1 mean electrical safety in the home will be monitored by local authority building control teams.
Minor jobs like replacing sockets and light switches will not be affected. But anyone thinking of adding new circuits to their house will have to get advice from Building Control or arrange for a qualified electrician to do the job.
Some 200,000 businesses will need to comply with the new law nationally.
Failure to do so will be a criminal offence, with the council assuming the power of removal or alteration of work that fails to comply.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 3, 12 and 14. There was no winner. Next week’s prize will be ?350. The ?25 consolation prize was won by Polly.
Vandal attack
VANDALS set fire to a wheelie bin in Pocklington Court, Padgate, Warrington and the flames spread to cause heat damage and scorching to the adjoining property.
Pigeon problem
ANTI-pigeon netting and deterrent spikes on window cills are to be installed at the Treasury Building in Palmyra Square South, Warrington to try and resolve a problem with pigeon droppings in a courtyard area.
Flats veto
PLANS to demolish an existing house in Field Lane, Appleton, Warrington and replace it with a two-storey block of eight flats have been refused by borough planners.
Prison plan
PLANNING approval has been given for a mobile building at Risley Prison, near Warrington for group counselling of prisoners.
[ 20.12.2004, 16:42: Message edited by: DS ]
