District Councillor Welcomes Increased Police Presence In Thame

A THAME Councillor has welcomed the the news that additional police officers have been tasked to cover Thame town centre on Friday and Saturday nights. Inspector Stewart Dunbar’s announcement that extra officers were in the town centre over the last two weekends, was welcomed by District Councillor Ann Midwinter who said: “This is really good news and shows that the local police have listened to the concerns of Thame people that were voiced at the recent public meeting to explain Neighbourhood Action Groups.”
Last weekend, Inspector Dunbar announced, five arrests were made and two fixed penalty notices issued for anti-social behaviour.

At the meeting, which was held at Thame town hall and attended by some 65 local people (including young people and councillors), the residents of Thame named the issues they want their neighbourhood team to tackle.

The top three priorities were lack of provision for young people, underage drinking and vandalism.

During the meeting residents were asked to think of things that concern them in their neighbourhood and they then voted for their top issues.

Lack of youth provision received 25 votes. Underage drinking in the town centre, Lincoln Place, Churchill Crescent parks and Fleetwood Way received 21 votes. And vandalism on Pearce Way, Lincoln Place, Chinnor Road, Queen Elizabeth Circle and the Upper High Street received 13 votes. These three issues received the most votes.

The neighbourhood team is now looking for people willing to be part of the neighbourhood action group (NAG) to start taking work forward to tackle these priorities.

Sgt Martin Jubb, Neighbourhood Implementation Manager, said: ?The NAG will be a group of people including local residents, police, local authorities and other interested parties such as shop owners, teachers, youth workers or licensees. This group will find solutions to the three priorities and put those solutions into action.

?If you are interested in joining the NAG then contact me, Sgt Mike Todd or PC Abi Derbyshire via 0845 8 505 505.

?We would also like to hear from anyone interested in becoming a PCSO. PCSOs are the key to the success of neighbourhood policing and we need more PCSOs across South Oxfordshire to complete our neighbourhood teams.?

?If you are interested in finding out more about what being a PCSO involves contact the national call centre on 0845 600 0925 or visit www.rewardingrole.co.uk.?