PENCADLYS Y RHANBARTH CANOLOG CENTRAL DIVISION DHQ
FFORDD WILLIAM MORGAN FFORDD WILLIAM MORGAN
PARC BUSNES LLANELWY ST ASAPH BUSINESS PARK
LLANELWY ST ASAPH
SIR DDINBYCH DENBIGHSHIRE
LL17OHQ LL17OHQ
Tel: 01745 588620 Tel: 01745 588620
Fax: 01745 588706 Fax: 01745 588706
UWCH AROLYGYDD / SUPERINTENDENT
TERRY KELLAHER
Your Ref/Eich Cyf:
Our Ref/Em Cyf: 1K/TB
Date/Dyddiad: 12 February 2007
Mr David Curtis
Old Colwyn (East) Residents’ Association
Dear David
It was good to meet on 26 January 2007 and as you know I have since been on leave hence the delay in my formal written response to you. We discussed a number of issues which you have subsequently produced as minutes, of which I have a copy and agree the content as being representative of our meeting.
It is always disappointing to have to redeploy staff, and particularly when they have the full confidence of the community they serve as is clearly the case in Old Colwyn with PC 2153 Kath Parmley. I am aware of the concerns and issues of your residents but, as discussed on this occasion, the criteria for the redeployment was directed from headquarters and taken out of the hands of the Divisional Commander.
You are fully aware of the current financial climate that the North Wales Police Authority is being forced to operate in. Cuts in the Force budget of £2 million for 06/0 7 have directly resulted in the loss of up to 120 police staff posts, and the necessity to replace them, in some cases with police officers, has consequently had an impact on neighbourhood policing. At this time, I have no clarity as to the actual funding position for 07/08 and, until such time, it is difficult to provide any guarantees in respect of how I take forward neighbourhood policing within Central Division. Regardless of the funding position, all wards will continue to benefit from a named CBM however they may have to cover more than one ward.
North Wales Police remains absolutely committed in taking forward the development of neighbourhood policing teams which includes an increase in the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), and your area of Old Colwyn is already benefiting from the presence of a dedicated PCSO. The deployment of PCSOs has many benefits, and because they are subject to limited abstractions from their designated areas, they are able to concentrate on problem solving within their communities, thus providing higher levels of visibility and reassurance. I would like to stress that PCSOs are well trained and have a significant number of powers to enable them to carry out their work effectively.
I know this response is not what you would have wished to receive at this time, but I can assure you that neighbourhood policing is critical to us, and that the development of our policing teams, including support from active communities, will deliver high levels of satisfaction whilst increasing reassurance within communities. I think that the work the Old Colwyn residents have engaged in is commendable and that positive working relationships will continue despite the loss of PC Parmley as an individual.
I look forward to working with you in the future to ensure a high level of neighbourhood policing continues and thank you for your associations support in local policing
Yours sincerely
Terry Kellaher
PARTNERSHIP SUPERINTENDENT’
cc. David Jones MP
