Change nationally and locally

This week we have the next announcement about potential policing changes in the consultation paper on police reform. It includes proposals for a new national crime agency to include a border policing service and the current Serious Organised Crime Agency. There's talk of it being like a British FBI. That assumes the FBI is something we aspire to. I'm all for improvement and taking lessons from anywhere that has good ideas but I find the endless comparison with USA and adoption of their practices (and culture?) a bit worrying. I am sure there are even more compelling parallels with some European 'federal' police organisations but it seems we always look across the Atlantic first. I am off to Spain on holiday soon so dependent on any contact I might have with police there I may change my view on this!

If you add public spending cuts into the mix of change then that means change here too. The Constabulary is changing the way we deliver some support functions and I am overseeing some work in the City on operational policing changes. I have always resisted change just for the sake of it especially when, as here, we have been performing well (14% reduction in crime last year for example). However, there are times when it is right for a significant review and new ways to work to achieve even better policing for the City and this is one of those moments.

I can't imagine a time in the near future when we wont want teams of officers briefing and deploying to respond to calls whilst others come in to investigate more serious crime and others spend their time delivering neighbourhood engagement and crime investigation. All these functions will always rely on good police staff support. However, how we do these functions, from how many sites and working what hours could all be different. But it can't just be about shifting around the work and people, it's got to be about better ways to work and better ways to manage and reduce the demand we face whilst improving our contact with the public and providing the best service we can. That means there are also vital partnership and community aspects to the changes we need to make.

I will make sure that I and my management team keep on being in touch with frontline officers and staff so we are aware of what matters and what makes things work well. The best way to keep in touch is to spend time with people including on patrol. Saturday night when I spent some time walking round Millbrook was one such chance for me to do that and I was really encouraged by the experience and I felt better informed for doing it.

If you've got things to say about policing in Southampton then please let us know. You can contact your local neighbourhood team or use the 'Your Voice Counts' link both through this link http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/localpolicing/southampton/ or comment on this blog (but forgive me if any reply is delayed whilst I am away!). According to the consultation paper, by 2012 you will have an elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight holding the Chief Cinstable to account for what we do or don't do. Even if that person does come into being the best contact is the local contact and we'll keep doing more of that. The neighbourhood officer I was with on Saturday does it every day in her work

I spoke too soon...

Why did I mention the weather? At least the rain didn't stop a very good turnout for the memorial service in Winchester for firefighters Alan Bannon and James Shears. The cathedral was full and the ceremony was very moving. Bagpipes played well are always a haunting sound and the banners of all the country's fire and rescue services made a colourful and very impressive tribute. Let's hope it's a long time before we have another such event.
Next week is the 'topping out' ceremony at our new station in Southampton. The building is looking great and its now less than a year before we will be in. With the other developments such as Guildhall Square coming on well and all the work on improving some of the city centre roads I think we can see the start of a real transformation for the City. I hope we don't forget the outlying areas though. I was at Holy Family Primary School Millbrook yesterday. Their recent developments have created some great accommodation and the kids there were certainly not put off their sports by a bit of rain.

On The Run

This week in the news you will have seen or read about an incident where a family mourn the loss of a loved one and a community comes to terms with a tragedy in it's midst. I'm not talking about the dramatic events in Rothbury and Northumbria but I mean the sad death of Maria Szarvak in Bitterne Park. Officers were at the scene soon after the incident and once again I pay tribute to the professionalism of the City's front line police and staff who dealt with this most distressing event. In the North it seems to me my police colleagues there are doing an amazing job and the photographs of PC David Rathband and his injuries must be in the mind of all those officers out on the search. Lets hope that search is over soon and with no more tragic outcomes.

In Southampton as the temperature continues to rise its good to be able to say that overall crime continues to fall and our summer anti-social behaviour campaign is having an effect. If you have seen any of the effects of that work where you live, good or bad, please let me know. Sadly we have seen an increase in burglaries over recent months and we know this is very much linked to people who have drug addictions and commit these crimes to pay for the drugs, mainly heroine, they crave. I'm not talking big numbers, usually no more than 3-4 burglaries a day across the whole City. Not a lot but still too many but don’t let it be you if you could avoid it by being careful. We will carry on targeting these burglars and those who trade in drugs. Please take care of your homes and property especially if you are away for a holiday. Have a look here for some advice.

http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/advice/secure/

On Sunday some other colleagues of mine will be taking part in the Race for Life. That includes staff who have overcome their own illness and some who have seen family members or friends taken away by cancer. The Race for Life is always an amazing event and the sense of collective spirit and determination to do all we can to tackle the disease is profound. I am pleased to know that my officers and staff who will be taking part are doing so proud of being identified as memebrs of the Constabulary and proud to be part of the Southampton community. Good luck and thank you to them and all those who are running, walking, wheeling this year.