RESIDENTS of Harlow were invited to find out more about crime and community safety in the town at a public meeting held at The Stow on Monday evening.
The panel included Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, Chief Inspector Paul Austin, Steve Wintrop of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. leader of Harlow Council, Cllr Dan Swords (Cons) and Portfolio Holders for Communities, councillor John Steer.
The meeting began with an overview of crime statistics, both in Essex and in Harlow. Members of the public raised concerns over the safety in the town, many speaking about the troubles that occur within the town centre as well as shopping precincts such as The Stow.
Yasmin Gregory of the Harlow Green Party spoke and emphasised how she feels vulnerable walking down local cycle paths. She claimed that women are ‘frightened at night’.
Once again, the meeting was punctuated with statistics. One of them being sexual assault is down by 7% and that 77% of the public are confident in Essex Police to provide them with the security and safety they need. Theft motor vehicle was next, “I’m sure you’ve all come across, or met someone who has had their vehicle stolen.” With this being a prominent issue, the panel ensured they are ‘working to tackle it’. With Essex Police recovering £20m worth of stolen cars. They detailed what vehicles are being targeted. A large number of Range Rovers, Jaguars and Ford Fiestas had been stolen.
Councillor John Steer made reference to specific operations, he said: “We will be seeing Operation Dial with a ‘major revamp’ as future operations are being planned. “Operation Dial is designed for officers to complete consistent patrols to combat anti-social behaviour (ASB). With a further implementation of 27 CCTV cameras in the Stow which are actively monitored in a local hub”.
Moreover, the panel spoke about shoplifting offences, 60% of shop-lifting offences in Harlow were committed in ten stores (which are not named). Though, the highest amount of shoplifting was claimed to be in a petrol station.
A member of the public detailed an incident they had gone through and experienced their frustration with delays to 101. The resident spoke about their experience having called 101 after hearing ‘gunshots’. He said he saw the perpetrators flee and one in fact holding what resembled a shotgun. He told the panel he was put on hold for 20 minutes in wait of a response. Roger Hirst had replied, “That should not be the case, when I call 101, I get through almost instantly.” Mentioning an additional statement on hold times being reduced from what once was ‘thirty minutes to eight minutes.’ Furthermore, a £1m budget has been placed to improvise 101.
With e-scooters in growing popularity, a member in attendance had raised the question on “what they will do about people riding irresponsibly on e-scooters?”. Chief Inspector Paul Austin said they seized over 250 e-scooters. A member of the attendance queried the illegal mopeds and motorbikes being used to commit crimes by individuals hidden with balaclavas, wielding knives. They asked, “What are you going to do about it?”
The panel advised that a response unit is readily available to tackle such crimes and Essex Police do have the facilities to use their own off-road motorbikes to stop criminals evading. They added, “due to the natural geography of Harlow, it is difficult to always stop them”.
The panel were also questioned on knife crime, with that being a national issue, they stated Essex Police are working with A&E in a reflect programme. With criminals being injured due to the life they are associated with. A&E operate their reflect programme to help rehabilitate those that are injured as it is considered a ‘touching moment’. Roger Hirst added that this has been ‘extremely successful’ with many changing their habits and going on to do better things with themselves instead of following a life of crime.
Lastly, with the internet growing at pace, the rapid expansion of AI and other technology. A member of the public asked, “With technology on the rise, growing greater and greater, what are you going to be doing about cybercrime? What have you got in place?” said a member in attendance. Roger Hirst said, “The City of London Police run the national online fraud programme, but we also have our own cyber-crime unit in Kent, which we share.”
Roger Hirst went into different regions operating several areas of cyber-crime, with regions helping provide information about firewalls and keeping safe online, where other regions are directly approaching tackling paedophilia online. “We are also investing heavily nationally in facial recognition technology”.
The PFCC will commence a public meeting schedule for 2024/25 in the autumn of 2024, when public meetings for each of the 14 districts in Essex will again be scheduled.