People in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are being urged to step forward to join an independent panel to influence policing in their communities.
Anyone aged 18 and over is able to join their local Safer Neighbourhood Panel to help hold the Local Policing Team Commander to account as well as look at wider criminal justice and community safety issues in their area.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire Matthew Ellis, who launched the Safer Neighbourhood Panels in 2015, said:
‘This is a real opportunity for people in Stafford to play a part in holding those responsible for policing in their area to account and I’d urge them to get involved.
‘I make no apology for believing that truly local policing, and the public playing a part in influencing that, is vital.
‘The spotlight and scrutiny on local policing performance that these panels bring is invaluable in adding to the rigour I have introduced to overseeing policing.’
Lilian Barker MBE, Chair of Newcastle-under-Lyme Safer Neighbourhood Panned added:
‘Get involved with your local Safer Neighbourhood Panel and help to improve the Local Policing Team by acting as a critical friend and help to scrutinise and challenge how they do things within the community.
‘A few hours of your time can make all the difference. Volunteers play an important part in the process, so take up the challenge and see how rewarding your input can be’
Steve Frodsham, from Stafford Safer Neighbourhood Panel added: ‘The Safer Neighbourhood Panels perform a vital role in ensuring that the work of our local Police Service is visible to and held accountable by the community it serves.
‘We are really keen that the Stafford panel is representative of the whole community, and are looking for volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and experience to join us and play an active role in scrutinising and, where appropriate, challenging the work of the police.
‘Acting as a ‘critical friend’ we scrutinise a wide range of policing activity including, the use of Taser, complaints against the police and domestic violence. We meet with the local commander every three months to question them on what we consider to be the most important issues.
‘If you have an enquiring mind you could be just the person we need to help the panel help our police service to keep our community safe as effectively as possible.’
Safer Neighbourhood Panels are established in Tamworth, Stoke-on-Trent, Cannock, Lichfield, Newcastle, Stafford, South Staffordshire and Staffordshire Moorlands and East Staffordshire.
Local residents and members of the business community sit on the panels to influence local policing and community safety, scrutinise the work done by police in their area, give feedback to communities and examine the impact of community resolutions and restorative justice.
The PCC is interested in attracting people from all walks of life who are able to represent the views from a business perspective. This is a voluntary role but travel expenses will be paid.
Anyone interested in applying to join their local Safer Neighbourhood panel should register their interest at www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/safer-neighbourhood-panels/.
