Raising awareness of the need to report crime

Deeplish Community Centre Crime Prevention and Community Safety Seminar

A seminar to raise awareness about the reporting of crimes, delivered by PC Rhys and Sargeant Oakes from GMP Rochdale division, took place at Deeplish Community Centre last week.

Participants were made aware of the various methods of reporting crimes and what happens after crime has been logged with police. The key message was to report every crime.

PC Rhys explained: “We are keen to investigate every crime which happens in our neighbourhoods, but it all depends on reporting and providing information, and intelligence from the local community."

Sgt Oakes added: “Hate crimes can be reported on line on the web site www.report-it.org.uk or 101 Police Number or in an emergency Dial 999."

He also explained that Crime Stoppers - 0800 555 111 - is totally independent of police and all crimes reports are transferred to police and people can remain anonymous when reporting crimes.

Saj Miah, Rochdale Council Principal Community Cohesion Officer, explained his role in dealing with hate crimes and the monitoring of these crimes by working in partnership with police. He said he works at a strategic level to reduce crime and to promote cohesion and public safety.

Councillor Mohammed Zaman and Councillor Sultan Ali also addressed the audience highlighting the importance of reporting hate crimes and offered their help and advice if residents needed support in reporting crime.

Councillor Shakil Ahmed explained that hate crime is very common on public transport. He said: “We must feel safe whilst using public transport; if there is any threat of crime, we must report it to the police."

Sohail Ahmad, Manager at Deeplish Community Centre, said: “We are pleased to work in partnership with local and regional public bodies promoting cohesion and offering advice on community safety."

Extending his appreciation to Sgt Oakes and PC Rhys, with the support of PCSO Mahmood and PCSO Anderton, for delivering such an "informative and detailed community safety and crime prevention seminar", Mr Ahmad said the seminar had been a "great success".