Local Policing
PACT
Since I have been in post, I have been led to believe that PACT stood for 'Police and Communities Together'. All PACT surgeries and meetings have been organised by CSO Cannon and myself and have been chaired by us. In fact PACT stands for 'Partners and Communities Together'
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places legally binding responsibilities on the Police AND other partners to tackle crime and anti social behaviour.
The Police have for years, taken on too much responsibility for matters which, before the Crime and Disorder Act, were the duty of the Police to deal with and that other partners such as the Councils, were happy for the Police to deal with. However, things will now need to be reviewed and our Partners will need to take a more active role in the process.
We are being actively encouraged to set up a PACT panel and have regular PACT meetings. These are different to the PACT Surgeries which Sharon and I have been doing and will continue to do as these are purely Police led and wouldn't ordinarily involve any other partners. What I am now considering, is the PACT panel and PACT meetings. A guide to what a PACT panel is , is detailed below.
PACT Panels: The PACT Panel's role is key to prioritising issues raised through the PACT surgeries and other community engagement activities, delivering action against these and feeding back to the community on the results of this action.
A PACT Panel is a group of representatives from a variety of agencies who attend the PACT meetings. The Panel meet after the public PACT meeting -the panel meetings should take place within the same week of the public meeting but, ideally, immediately afterwards (although time should be provided for meeting attendees to speak with the Panel members about any specific issues after the meeting).
The purpose of the PACT Panel is to agree a realistic and achievable course of action to address the priority issues identified by the community within an agreed timescale.This can include joint action or be organisation specific.
The PACT Panel can agree a maximum of three priorities after each meeting.
I know what you are saying, we've been here before!!I agree, but I cannot continue to take responsibility for all manner of problems which should be addressed by other agencies and partners.
So, I recommend the format for future PACT meetings is as follows:
Set up of a PACT panel for Market Drayton Rural South.
Hold a PACT panel meeting after every Local Joint Committee meeting which are held every 3 months.
As a result of these LJC meetings, take further issues raised. Report back via next LJC meeting the results of action taken. Continue with PACT surgeries and engagements CSO Cannon and myself.
I think the essence of what this article is about, is the sharing of responsibility. I hope you will share that with me and assist me in volunteering for the panel in the first instance. I am particularly looking for representatives from:
Local Council for each parish; Schools; Highways; NHW; Residents; Housing; Local Businesses; Church.
I think for my area, the above plus myself, would be sufficient.
Can I ask that you all give the above some consideration and let me know your views. I'm afraid this isn't going to go away and the future of local policing will involve PACT panels. Volunteers, line up behind me!
Many thanks for your time in reading this and I look forward to hearing from you.
Mick Sturland ( LPO )
Telephone - 0300 333 3000 ext: 5505 / 07792 774 058
Your Local Policing Team are:
PC 2682 Mick Sturland
CSO 6376 Sharon Cannon
PS 3060 Tony Merrick
How to comtact us :
Police Station, Salisbury Road, Market Drayton TF9 1AL
Phone 0300 333 3000
Emailmarketdraytonruralsouth.1pt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk