Following the recent Crime Update on our website where the Chief Constable’s announcement about local police/community meetings was reported, it is interesting to note that Essex Police interpretation of local is somewhat different to that which a resident of West Bergholt would regard as local.
John Gili-Ross Chair of the Parish Council, attended a Rural Crime Forum meeting recently where the new Local Community Meetings was an item raised through the agenda, and where it was stated that all local meeting details now appear on the Essex Police web site to inform the public of specifics relating to their area and meeting dates. On checking this John raised this question by email:
I have accessed the site this morning to understand when and where these will be held for my village but failed to find this information. Can you advise me if there is an error with the site or was the meeting yesterday wrongly informed.
In response Essex Police have said:
The information provided to you at the rural crime forum was correct. I have accessed the website this morning to ensure there are no issues and it appears to be in order at this time. The West Bergholt local community meetings are listed under the Chappel and Copford neighbourhoods with some overlap in to the Dedham, Horkesley, Lexden, Pettygate and Stanway neighbourhoods. The following times, dates and locations are from the website –
- Local Community MeetingDate: 11th October 2014 17:00 – 18:00
Where: Layer Village Hall
Extra Info: Venue to be confirmed. These meetings will be held throughout Colchester Borough please check other Neighbourhood areas for a meeting that is more convenient for you
- Local Community MeetingDate: 1st November 2014 17:00 – 18:00
Where: Dedham Village Hall
Extra Info: Venue to be confirmed. These meetings will be held throughout Colchester Borough please check other Neighbourhood areas for a meeting that is more convenient for you
- Local Community MeetingDate: 6th December 2014 17:00 – 18:00
Where: Parish Hall
Old London Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, CO6 1EN
Extra Info: These meetings will be held throughout Colchester Borough please check other Neighbourhood areas for a meeting that is more convenient for you
We are looking to simplify the local community meeting links on the website over the coming weeks. For ease at this time, the following link will take you directly to the Chappel neighbourhood page –
http://www.essex.police.uk/my_neighbourhood/colchester_district/chappel/chappel-2.aspx
It remains unclear as to whether the familiar police vehicle (with attending PCSO) will continue in New Church Road for residents to report issues to the Police directly. If so then perhaps West Bergholt residents do not need the new local police meetings anyway.