Latest news with #ChiefConstable
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Eight in ten feel unsafe in Derby city centre. They blamed police, council and cuts
More than eight in ten people surveyed by Derbyshire Live do not feel safe in the city centre. The canvassing of 590 readers also asked what was to blame for the apparent increase in crime, with 39% blaming the police, 27% the council and 8% a lack of facilities - a further 13% pointed the finger at all three combined. Derbyshire police's Chief Constable has said she is "concerned" to see that people were blaming police for not feeling safe, adding that the force is acting to "deal with it". But Derby City Council, decided to play down the survey results, suggesting that it was not representative of the city and added it "fails to recognise the accountability of those who commit these crimes". It comes after a troubling period for the city, which has seen a brazen raid of a pawnbroker shop and the daylight killing of a man in Lloyds bank, among a host of incidents across the wider area since the beginning of 2025. READ MORE: Derby pensioner ashamed at what his 'third-world' estate has become READ MORE: 'Where is he?' More calls for MP to resign as Derby councillor in lively meeting The poll asked if people felt safe in the city centre following the recent incidents, with just 6 per cent saying "totally" and 12 per cent saying "a bit". A total of 36 per cent said "not very much" and a further 45 per cent answered "not at all" - meaning more than 80 per cent of Derby residents feel unsafe in the city centre. When asking who/what is to blame for the perceived increase in crime, we also received more than 300 written responses. Dozens of people said it was police, council and a lack of facilities, others pointed the finger at "blatant" drug use, and some suggested it is a culmination of previous government funding cuts. You can see a breakdown of this data below: Police: 39 per cent Council: 27 per cent Lack of facilities: 8 per cent Police, council and lack of facilities: 13 per cent Immigration: 5 per cent Drug/alcohol problems: 3 per cent Government: 3 per cent Justice system: 2 per cent Parents: 1 per cent Media: 0.44 per cent Poverty: 0.29 per cent Derbyshire police's chief constable, Rachel Swann, says there is "more that the police can do" and says action has already been taken in the city's streets, with a number of arrests made by the city centre's Safer Neighbourhood Team. She said: 'I am concerned that people don't have feelings of safety within the city centre and I think that there is more that we can do. "One of our roles is to help people feel safe and prevent crime. And clearly, if there is an area where people aren't feeling that, then that's where we need to act to deal with it. 'Feelings of safety are made up of a different number of things. Visibility is one of them. Pro-active policing in terms of dealing with issues that people see in front of them, that's part of that too. These are things we have been doing and I think maybe we need to tell people more about what we are doing. "After all, if you think the police are aware of that problem and are doing something about it, then you are almost bound to feel safer." The Chief Constable said that she was aware of a big fear of crime in the city centre. She added: 'Visible jackets of police and council officers have increased in the city centre as we work more closely in partnership. 'In July, the city centre Safer Neighbourhood Team arrested 17 people, conducted 24 stop searches, engaged 18 people who were involved in anti-social behaviour and dispersed them from the city centre, and seized six e-scooters. The team, which is also aware of people's fear of crime, has been tackling the issues in front of them, which I am really pleased about, and they have had a lot of visibility.' One business owner, Faraz Ali, opened a restaurant near The Spot in the city centre last year. He says that, although Derby city centre is clearly struggling amid the recent events, he can't help but look around the country and see more of the same nationwide. "The city centre is a dying breed everywhere you look in the UK at the moment, there are lots of empty shops and the rates are too high, so for me, I blame the council. These empty shops lead to a lack of people in the city centre, and more places for people to break into and cause trouble. "Young people, or just anyone, really, are able to walk around and almost do what they like, it seems, and there are fewer people in town to notice these things and put people off. And all of this leads to less businesses wanting to open in Derby, and it's starts a bit of a vicious cycle. "It's just not a great place, unfortunately, it's not the same Derby. But I think we are seeing this across the country, so I don't know what can be done." Charanjit Shanan, owner of The Sandwich Shop in St Peter's Courtyard, which has been in the same spot for more than 30 years, says that the city is currently a "mess" - adding that they have been left with no choice but to change their opening hours out of fear for their safety. Mrs Shanan said: "The city centre has gone really downhill recently unfortunately. "We've been here for more than 30 years and it has got so bad that we are exploring a move to a different location. But the problem is, we own the freehold to the building, so not only are we looking for somewhere else to move, but we also cannot find a business to move into our current premises. "We used to open at 5am, but the people in town at that time are not friendly, they are not safe. My husband is worried for me when I go to work, and we've actually had to change our opening hours to 6am or 7am simply because the area is not safe at that time. "Business is also suffering. The Hippodrome demolition has caused many problems and people are unable to pass through Green Lane to access our shop, it's had a massive impact. It's been a steady decline since they opened the shopping centre, you used to have people walking all around the city and the foot traffic is great, now they just seem to go in and out the same way every time." A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: "The recent incidents in our city have been shocking. Nobody wants to see their community rocked by senseless acts of crime and violence and we are committed to working with our partners to tacklethese issues. 'This survey seems less about genuine feedback and more about pointing fingers, which is unhelpful. It conveniently fails to recognise the accountability of those who commit these crimes. Likewise, with just 600 responses, it does not provide an accurate representation of the 250,000+ people who call Derby home. 'We are taking action, and we continue to work tirelessly with our partners to make it harder forcriminals to operate."
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
PCC Clare Moody: Strengthening neighbourhood policing across Somerset
You've told me you want safer streets and more visible policing and I'm doing it. I've listened to your concerns about anti-social behaviour (ASB), retail crime, and criminality in town and city centres, and I am working with the Chief Constable to put more officers where they are needed, tackling crime in highstreets and areas you care about, because you should feel safe in your high street. I have launched "Your Streets, My Priority" this month – a coordinated programme of action to enhance neighbourhood policing and create safer, more vibrant town centres and high streets across the region. There are several centres targeted across the Avon and Somerset area. The focus is on making our town and city centres safer, more vibrant spaces where residents, businesses, and visitors feel secure and welcomed. Supported by the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which has added more officers to your local teams, and the additional dedicated patrols in targeted areas, the plans will be delivering more proactive, visible and engaging policing in your cities and towns. From increased foot patrols, to street surgeries and crime prevention advice for businesses. The local plans include ways for the police to work closer with businesses, CCTV and shop watch schemes to share information, respond to incidents and target prolific offenders as well as proactive use of powers to address ASB. The Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership will be continuing its work over the summer period and my team will be working with them and the council to raise awareness of opportunities for young people over the summer. I will be visiting different areas throughout Somerset and Bath to meet residents, businesses, community groups, and the local neighbourhood police team to see how things are progressing. I will be monitoring progress to make sure the campaign delivers results for you. To keep up to date with what's happening as part of the "Your Streets, My Priority", visit my website and social media pages.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
July Tynwald sitting extended for high volume of business
The July sitting of the Manx parliament has been moved forward by a day to accommodate the "extra large volume of business before the court", the President of Tynwald has Skelly confirmed the meeting would start on 14 July, previously scheduled for a day later. It is the final session before members break up for the summer recess. The busy agenda is set to include debates on the Chief Constable's annual report, a £15.3m overspend in health for the last financial year and changes to how the island's minimum wage is calculated. Other items include the regulations governing the introduction of an opt-out system for organ Council of Ministers' updated report on inward migration and a select committee report footpaths, bridleways and green lanes are also expected to be sitting marks the final meeting of parliamentary members with no further House of Keys sittings, before the summer follows the island's national celebration Tynwald Day, which this year falls on 7 July. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cleveland Police confirms new chief constable as Victoria Fuller
A deputy chief constable will step up to the top job after her nomination was unanimously Fuller had been named as the preferred candidate to replace Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mark Webster when he retires next area's police and crime panel, which is made up of elected and independent members, had the power to ratify or veto the Police and Crime Commissioner's proposed candidate, but said it was impressed with her "vision for the force".Mrs Fuller joined the force in May 2022, having started her career at Durham Police in 1999, where she served for 23 years. Chair of the all-party panel councillor Tony Riordan said she had been enthusiastic about continually improving the force during her hearing."We felt she impressed us all with her wealth of operational knowledge, her vision for the force and her passion for providing the people of Cleveland with a first-class police service," he chief constable Mr Webster had been appointed in 2022, and helped lift the troubled force out of special force had been described as "clueless" and was found to be putting the public at risk, before eventually being assessed to have made "significant" improvements by and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: "She brings stability to Cleveland Police at a time when it is more important than ever to maintain the outstanding progress highlighted during the force's last inspection."Mrs Fuller is expected to take up her post in July when Mr Webster retires. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Chief constable to step down after seven years
The chief constable for Cambridgeshire Police will step down from the position in September. Nick Dean has been in the role for seven years after he became head of the force in 2018. Mr Dean previously announced he would retire in 2023, but abandoned the plans when he "realised now is not the right time". The force confirmed the end of his contract and applications for the role remain open until the 11 June. Mr Dean joined Norfolk Constabulary in September 1992, serving in both uniform and criminal investigation roles. He has more than three decades of police service under his belt and became head of the Cambridgeshire force in September 2018. During 2023 he announced his plans to retire, but continued in the role following an extension to his contract. As chief constable he was accountable for the Cambridgeshire Constabulary and was responsible for command, leadership, response to crime and critical incidents. In June 2024, he was recognised in the King's Birthday Honours and was awarded a King's Policing Medal for distinguished service. A spokesperson from the Cambridgeshire force said: "I can confirm that Chief Constable Nick Dean's contract has come to an end and he will be leaving in September." The Cambridgeshire force is expected to grow between 2025 to 2026. This follows a £2m funding boost from the government to help recruitment. On visit to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, this year, Sir Keir Starmer said visible policing had fallen dramatically in recent years, with 90% of crime left unsolved. He announced £200m would be spent on hiring police in areas including Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Somerset. Based on the funding allocation the Cambridgeshire force could increase by 30 police officers, seven police community support officers and 13 special constables. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Chief constable announces retirement Chief constable abandons retirement plans Cambridgeshire Constabulary
