The Manchester Evening News has reported that efforts are being made to establish a community patrol in parts of the constituency.
Nationally a number of similar groups have already been established, and it proves a source of tension for local councils and police forces in reconciling how to ensure the safety of volunteers and the wider public, and ensuring basic standards are met. I do not doubt that residents looking to organise community patrols are likely be well meaning, as will many in the wider community who want to offer support, but without clear regulation and basic standards such as training, governance and compliance being in place it remains my view that they should not be encouraged or facilitated by the police or local council. My concerns reflect those set out in July by Cllr Shah, Leader of the Council; “People’s concerns about the levels of crime in their area are very real and something all members hear about from their local residents very regularly.
“We would, however, question whether street patrols of this nature are the best or most appropriate solution to the issues residents raise.
“As a result, we don’t currently offer any support or funding to these types of groups and have no plans to do so.’
There has always been a role for community involvement to reduce crime. In most cases this will not be patrols but formalised Neighbourhood Watch schemes which are supported by the police, local council and often housing associations.
As a constituency MP I am regularly in dialogue with Greater Manchester Police and Oldham Council on community safety and crime issues. My postbag regularly receives concerns from residents about rising crime and the lack of resources to allow the police to respond.
I have written previously on the damage done by a decade of Conservative cuts. Our town has lost local police stations, both its County Court and Magistrates Court have closed, and not a single custody cell is operational in the Borough. All of this undermines public confidence. Though more officers are being recruited they will not replace all we have lost, nor will we see the support staffing replaced to the same level.
Even in this challenging context we must see a return to local and active neighbourhood policing, as set out by the Mayor and new Chief Constable, and for that to be supported by reporting lines which are fit for purpose. Residents have the right to expect active investigations into crimes which are reported. That also means that the iOps IT system must be sorted out once and for all, until it is victims will not get the justice they deserve and frontline officers will have a much harder job to do.
All this is essential to maintain and rebuild public trust and confidence.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 