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I know if you mention the word Police in East Manchester, you are most likely to get a response that is on the negative side. I hope to give my thoughts and hopefully change a few people’s minds about police officers, and how we can benefit from a little understanding. The police come in for a lot of stick; they are usually the first point of contact for many who need help. The massive rise in Crime and Anti Social Behaviour means we need our police more than ever, don't believe what you read about crime figures in East Manchester there are reporting restrictions. What this means is, many crimes or incidents don't get reported because they either have no faith in the police, or because we are in a regeneration area and promoting it to be a good place to come and live is more important than making it look bad.

The people of East Manchester are not daft, they see crime or incidents everyday, what they don't see is it being dealt with effectively. There are token gestures reported in local newspapers, or when they have some small successes like recently with drugs. This does not even come close to what I know can be achieved when the police are given the resources, and put on the streets actually doing the job they are paid to do. Does anyone remember 2002, the Commonwealth Games, what an extremely good period for East Manchester, not just because of the games, but the success of the policing. Crime was practically zero, this was a different police force from the one before the games, why was this? Could it be there were more of them and that they actually dealt with any issue that arose, swiftly and with a passion? I would imagine the police and the people of East Manchester were in a very different mood, the police able to do their job and getting results, and the people brimming with confidence and able to walk the streets again with pride. What a difference a few more police officers made and the community seeing real policing in action, and that is the problem now for any area, too few doing the job of many.

If the government is very serious about policing and making our streets safer, then allocate more money and resources to the problem. In East Manchester we have what’s called Beat Sweeps, this is where all the services get together and blitz an area and try to make the community safer, and then it is highly publicised with lots of bells and whistles. Does this work, does it hell, get real, we have had many of these Beat Sweeps and the areas they hit are still no better off, the community might be more informed but the crime levels don't drop. If government believe this is the way to go, something more is needed, a sustained level of intense policing in areas, in fact just like we had when the commonwealth games were on. Only then do I believe is there any chance of getting respect back in our communities, we don't want to see token gestures here and there, a proper level of policing is badly needed.

The majority of problems in any area are petty crime; this is the single most common cause of concern for a community. This is where a real difference can be made; if this is dealt with effectively then respect will gradually return. I heard a great speech given by a person about the Respect Agenda, while it raised my spirits believing something was going to be done to tackle Anti Social Behaviour, I got back only to hear of cuts being made to funding for the police, PCSO’s and neighbourhood wardens etc, and so what was the point, these are token gestures by a government that believes it is winning the war on crime, in reality we know different, you can’t even begin to win a battle without having a well manned police force and the  resources that they need. My community still suffers in silence, people are too afraid to report problems they see everyday for fear of retribution, it is not the police who rule the streets any more. I know things are being put in place and improvements have happened in East Manchester, trouble is Anti Social Behaviour has now become too big that drastic tougher measures are called for; this is not just a local issue anymore either, every where it is the same story.

East Manchester is under massive regeneration, people are expected to pour into the area, and the idea is to increase the population by 50,000 or 60,000. Now while I don't want to pre-empt what might happen, it stands to reason that more problems may arise in the future, and that means more police may be needed. At a meeting I attended, I asked the question how many new policemen have been recruited in East Manchester, the answer was none. The idea from the people in high places is let’s get someone on the streets that can interact with communities and provide high visibility, yes looks a good idea, but does it actually stop crime, my view is no.

While the idea of putting PCSO's and Neighbourhood Wardens onto our streets looks good on paper, it does not work as good as having a real police officer. I don't want to slate these people, they are doing a fantastic job in difficult times with extremely limited powers, and that is the problem for me. That is the real difference; a police officer is highly trained and has the power to deal with virtually any incident. So why is the government flooding our streets with people who have their hands tied. Most people in East Manchester are now wise to this fact, so more damage is done because PCSO's and Wardens don't command respect from the criminal elements. I can't really comment on the relationship say between the Police and PSCO's or Wardens, but I would imagine it to be a somewhat strained relationship.

I believe there is a role in the community for PCSO's and Wardens, how they have been presented and promoted is the problem, neighbourhood wardens started out in East Manchester interacting and bonding with communities, what a great idea, that has now changed. Instead they have now become enforcers, able to give out small fines, this is not what I see a person who interacts very closely with the community doing, someone could be chatting to a warden one minute, and then in the next the warden gives them a fine. A neighbourhood warden should not have to deal with any crime directly, petty or otherwise, the community need someone they can trust and talk too, who can provide them with information about the goings on the area, also provide a link between all the services. Not for one minute do I believe they should inflict any kind penalties or fines on the community that will just destroy any kind of relationship or trust they might have gained. There are many different neighbourhood warden schemes up and down the country facing the same problems the PCSO's do and that is being taken seriously and having a clearly defined role in the community. Areas differ how they use wardens, some give them official looking uniforms and there are a variety of powers they can be given. No wonder communities are confused; it is very upsetting to hear that a warden or PCSO is treated differently because of the area they live in, isn’t that discrimination.

A PCSO puts themselves in the frontline with high visibility, something which they are to be applauded for, why is that, it's because while they look a policeman, they have very few powers. This makes them a easy target and it will not be long before we have a serious incident and putting PCSO's onto our streets will no longer be possible. Many areas outside Manchester have PCSO's, and what I found strange is they can be allocated different powers in different areas, why? The Chief Inspector can allocate various powers depending on the needs of an area, I would have thought if you create the role of a PCSO then they would all be given the same powers, this is obviously not the case, must be quite soul destroying when PCSO's from one area, see a PCSO from a different area being able to do more in the same job. As I see it crime is crime no matter where you go, some areas will have higher levels of crime than others that’s all.

Many PCSO's would want more powers if you ask them, or they now feel disillusioned with their job, the answer is clear, make them the same as police officers, which defeats why they were created in the first place or give us more real police officers. The role of a PCSO is being undermined by government, I am sure there is much confusion within the ranks, especially if more powers are given. Giving powers like Stop and Search is quite laughable if the person being stopped decides to swear and walk off, how does that PCSO gain control of the situation and get respect. Powers of Arrest is an issue, this would mean you have to give them a weapon and handcuffs, which means they might then be put at risk from injury if someone resisted. The knock on effect is you then have to give them more training, which costs money. A full time police officer as gone through years of rigorous training and is in a better position to deal with any incident, a PCSO is not as well trained and may actually put themselves and the community at risk. Lets give the PCSO's a lot of credit for trying to make a difference within our community, it is just a shame government may ultimately ruin what started out as a good idea by keep redefining the role of a PCSO and also the role of a neighbourhood warden.

The one thing I have not touched on and which plays a massive role is the legal system and courts, its all well and good having a fantastic police force, this needs backing up with a just as good legal system. It makes one cry sometimes the stories we get to hear concerning criminals, and how police do everything humanely possible to apprehend them only for a judge to let them go time and time again. The government seriously needs to give the legal system a massive overall, and give some of these judges and magistrates a kick up the backside, or let them live in our neighbourhood for a while. I am not only blaming judges etc, it is the actual law at times which fails us. Just recently I was listening to the news about prisons being overcrowded, and the intention is to release prisoners early. Now tell if I am wrong, doesn't that undermine the work the police do and puts our communities at risk again. A crime is a crime, and the punishment should stand. Build more prisons and keep them there until they have served their time, otherwise what's the point, and another answer is an effective police deterrent which means less people will commit a crime in the first place.

Criminals now know that if they commit a crime, the sentence is reduced if they plead guilty, if they do go to prison which is unlikely in most cases, they will get early release, what message is the government sending out. How can you rave about the respect agenda on the one hand and then pussyfoot about with criminals, it's insane. Sorry but the government just lost my respect and very much doubt I will have faith in a system which allows crimes to go unpunished and puts our lives at risk.

I have seen first hand what can happen when things goes bad, the worst thing is when I see bad behaviour given preferential treatment over good. In fact it is now a massive money making business, so big in fact that special care homes are sprouting up everywhere. To me this just reinforces the fact that if you are bad, someone will give you lots of attention, takes you on trips, and provides you with everything you need. I’ve seen people lives destroyed because of such homes, if not managed properly they cause chaos in the community, and this happens a lot, you just don't get to hear about it much. We have gone full circle and are actually rewarding people for being bad, no wonder communities have lost faith and can't see all the good work that is going on, they are being blinded by issues like these, which is a shame because I know the police and the support teams do a tremendous job given the resources available. The community asked for help, and what we see is the answer, Police, PCSO, Wardens all working together, what is not happening is the community joining in and having the faith to trust in the system once again, it will take a bit longer to heal them wounds.

I started this about police officers and I think I will end on it for now; they get very negative reviews, and especially in East Manchester. In our area we have 2 local police officers, they have quite a task. High levels of crime and anti social behaviour means they are stretched to the limit, the knock on effect of this is when you really need a police officer, none are available, or someone decided your plight is too petty to warrant an officer being sent, In which case you may be seen by a PCSO. The problem then is the people lose faith in policing and communities decide to shut the door and don't bother reporting crimes anymore, no matter how small. The police have their own problems which you may not be aware of; frustration is one that constantly rears its ugly head when an officer tries to their job.

Paperwork is the main stumbling block to a police officer doing their job effectively, this is what keeps them off the streets. The paperwork attached to a crime is phenomenal, there may also be legal forms to fill in and it does not stop there, the officer may also have to fill in non related forms to say they have followed procedures correctly, or conduct surveys. It is getting to the point they will each need a personal secretary, red tape has hit new heights and impacted on our communities, more paperwork means less policing, that has had a detrimental effect on how we view our police force. Overall the police do an excellent job with one hand tied behind their backs, just imagine if we could free this hand, what could be achieved then. So is it really the police we should be blaming, no, it's the government and the present legal system.

I hope you have a better understanding of the problems and causes of what you may see as bad policing, and that things can only improve, but only if someone listens to the communities out there, and changes the way in which they work in the future. No more token gestures, a sustained level of policing is the way forward, oh and less paperwork, and when a crime is committed, it is punished to the full extent of the law. I have only touched on a small part of my thoughts here and probably missed bits out; and will provide an update to this post later.

I feel better for that, sometimes you have let off steam and let your feelings out. Whether you agree with me or not does not matter, you will find some truth in what I say. Everyone will see it differently, but our common goal should all be the same, a safer crime free communities. I hope that I have not offended anyone that was not my intention; it was very hard for me to express my feelings in this way, and hope you’ll forgive me if it appears to say something completely different to what I intended it to.

Useful Links

http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/  - Home Office - Police
http://www.acpo.police.uk/  - Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
http://www.gmp.police.uk/ - Greater Manchester Police (GMP)
http://www.gmp-recruitment.co.uk/ - Greater Manchester Police Recruitment Website
http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/officers/overview.html - Want to be a police officer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_constable - All about Special Constables
http://www.policespecials.com/whatisa.htm  - What is a Special Constable
http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/specials/overview.html -  Want to be a Special Constable
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Community_Support_Officer  - All about PCSO
http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/pcso/overview.html  - Want to be an PCSO
http://www.policecommunitysupportofficer.com/welcome.html - What is a PCSO (Police Community Support Officer)
http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/pcsohome.htm  - Police Community Support Officers
http://www.pcsos-national.co.uk/page3.html  - 2008 powers for Police Community Support Officers
http://www.eastlandshomes.co.uk/article.asp?id=82  - about the Neighbourhood Wardens for East Manchester
http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/  - Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU)
http://www.respect.gov.uk/ - Respect drive - tackling anti-social behaviour and its causes
http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/neighbourhoodwatch/nwatch01.htm  - Home Office Neighbourhood Watch
http://lcjb.cjsonline.org/greatermanchester/home.html  - Greater Manchester Local Criminal Justice Board