The conservatives' on police reform...

The Shadow Minister for Police Reform, recently launched the Conservatives "Back on the Beat" policing paper. As we know full well the; public want the police back on the beat and that is where the police officers and PCSOs also want to be. I had a brief look at the document today, here are just two examples of the possible changes that lie ahead following the next general election...

1, Mobile Urban Gaols
New specially-designed mobile urban gaols ("MUGs") to go into crime hotspots that are afflicted by, for instance, knife crime and antisocial disorder. Police will be able to deal with more offenders more quickly without having to go all the way back to the police station. MUG's may reduce the time offenders spend off the beat. MUGs may also mean a more visible police presence for the public which is certainly a priority for us and an aspiration overall I would think. I doubt that the new MUGs will have any relevance at all in West Oxfordshire, well at least not in Carterton.

2. Reducing Paperwork and handing back powers
They intend to abolish statutory charging for a large number of offences - this would mean giving back powers to custody sergeants to charge offenders without having to fill in forms for the CPS lawyers and then spend more time waiting for the lawyers to make a charging decision. Less paperwork has to be a step forward, I just hope that they will also review more than just paperwork but look at computer systems and other work processes which keep officers at a desk for too long, they also claim to cut the paperwork of stop and search recording which I have previously stated is a simply ludicrous drain on officers' time.

What the document doesn’t say in any real detail is how the conservatives see the Police will engage with communities, whether NAGs will be phased out and how local police teams (they may choose to leave the “neighbourhood police” label behind) will interact and work with parish and town councils. What it does show is that the emphasis on any real change to police M.O. would be focused on violent crime, knife crime, anti-social crime and disorder and crime associated with the night time economy. I don’t think we in Carterton would see very much in the way of change at street level – but we will have to wait and see!

This youtube video shows David Cameron and Chris Grayling talking about the changes they consider are necessary to tackle low level crime and anti-social behaviour - Play video

Streamlining my commitments

Well, In recent months I have been evaluating the numerous commitments I have as a family man, as an RAF serviceman, as an Independent Councillor and as a community volunteer on a large number of projects and activities and I have come to the decision that I need to do some streamlining and prioritising in order to make the very best use of my time.

For personal reasons I have felt the need to reduce the number of hours per week I dedicate to such a plethora of community activities. My first thought was to consider how I can hand over  responsibility for some project management and some team leadership roles so that I can take on more of a mentoring and supporting role which should greatly reduce the hours required. Next I have considered which roles can easily be given to equally dedicated and dynamic people who perhaps have more spare time to offer and who currently have less of a significant involvement. and lastly I have considered how my time should best be allocated between work, family and Council and what there is left to share between other projects and activities.

The result has brought me to the very difficult but glaringly obvious conclusion that I am currently spreading myself amongst so many different activities that something simply has to give. and these are the difficult decisions I have come to so far...

The Extreme Wheels Project has grown from year to year and is now a hugely successfully but rather time consuming project, but it does not need me to lead it. Alex Oliver and Mandy Williams (two great people who I am proud to call friends) will lead the project from today. I will of course be on hand to advise and I will continue to support the project in any way I can.

I have chaired the Neighbourhood Action Group since 2005 and the group has proved to be an invaluable forum for intelligence gathering, problem solving and objective setting for our local neighbourhood police team and the Safer Communities Partnership. The group does not require me as its chairman and so I will opt to stand down and I will support the election of a new chairman.

I will now need to consider my other commitments such as School Governor, Director of CCC and all the many committees that I currently serve on to see what other streamlining is necessary.

I remain totally dedicated to my family, to my service in the Royal Air Force and to my service to the Town of Carterton as an Independent Councillor. Streamlining is necessary to maximise my effectiveness and my dedication to the many important aspects of my life.

Carterton Youth Council

I must say a massive thank you and well done to the following youth Councillors...

Matty Yallop
Darron Larner
Tilly Wilson
Matthew O'Brien
Thomas Harvey
Josh Wright
Rosie Herridge

They all attended the official royal opening of Carterton Community Centre, HRH the Princess Royal was hugely impressed by our Youth Councillors and she wished them the very best for the future. One of the main features of our display was the all new Carterton Youth Council website (www.cartertonyouthcouncil.co.uk) which was pulled together in a matter of weeks, the CYC website will now be developed by the CYC website committee chaired by Tilly Wilson. 

Tilly can be contacted at info@cartertonyouthcouncil.co.uk

Carterton Skate Park

Those of you who know me or at least know of my work in the community will also know that I support young people in the persuit of constructive and creative activities and I consider our young people in Carterton to be as bright, capable and inspiring as all young people.

One of the projects which I have championed over the years is the Extreme Wheels Project which I have taken responsibility for since 2006. I have assisted Skateboarders, rollerbladers and BMXers in staging the event and developing it into the event that it is today, including live music played from a 40ft stage, hot food, inflatable games (including a bungee run) and other attractions. We intend the 2009 event to be bigger and better than all previous years, largely because each year we have had more and more volunteers and interest from local people and businesses to make it happen.

Unfortunately recent criminal activity has meant that our premises license for Extreme Wheels 2009 is in jeopardy. There have been a series of illegal parties/raves in derelict properties and at locations such as the Dell (adjacent to the skate park). This means that when the relevant authorities are asked to comment or object to our premises license application they may consider that recent activity means that live music events at the skate park might add to the problems.

This is obviously a great concern for all those who dedicate their time and effort into planning and delivering the Extreme Wheels Days but we will continue the plans for EW09 and we will tackle any objection through the proper channels.

I would ask that those responsible for staging these illegal parties to which I refer please consider the consequences of their actions. If EW09 is not allowed to take place because of a very small number of people intent on breaking the law it would be a terrible shame!

The next EW09 project meeting will take place in Carterton Town Hall on Wednesday 25th Feb at 7.30pm, members of the public are invited to attend.

Welcome to my new blog

I thought it was about time I created a blog to accompany the new website (www.adriancoomber.com) so here it is!

There are indeed times when its quite nice to be able to air my thoughts, my concerns, my views and to encourage others to add their own comments too. As an independent councillor I speak and act on behalf of the townsfolk of Carterton at the Town Hall and in the community and so I hope this blogger page provides an opportunity to interact with me on the subjects that I consider to be important in Carterton such as Crime & Disorder, Young People, Recreation, Traffic, Town Policies and many more. 

I also hope that this blogger page will give people the opportunity to raise their own issues and questions on subjects which matter to them and to ask me for my views.