Police initiative criticised

Father Paul Daly

Rochdale Police have been criticised for their recently announced inititative of being out and about stopping local residents to ask them if they know who their neighbourhood policing teams are. 

Parish Priest, Father Paul Daly, says: "It strikes me that the lunatics have finally taken over the asylum."

He asks: "How can this be an effective use of police time or money?"

And answers his own question: "Surely they would be better employed investigating crimes, stopping villains and improving their lamentable detection rate?"

However, Lawrence Glendinning of Newhey has welcomed the initiative saying: "If they are ever in Newhey, they are more than welcome to knock on my door, I'll invite them in and have a chat with them and discuss with them my concerns on detection of crime and crime reduction in my neighbourhood."

The drive will see officers and police community support officers (PCSO) patrol streets across the Borough and will give officers the chance to ask residents about their Neighbourhood Policing Teams and to find out if they know who their local policing teams are, how to contact them and what issues are of most concern to them in their area, to help alleviate problems.

Chief Inspector James Troisi, from Rochdale Division, said: “Getting to the residents on a street based level means that as a Division and a Force we are able to get the local views of residents who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to voice their concerns."

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news/27614/officers-visit-residents-to-listen-to-concerns