Point 2 – Provide you with information so you know who your dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Team is, where they are based, how to contact them and how to work with them.

ENSURING the people of Cambridgeshire have their say and know their local team are is important to the Constabulary.

Week seven of the ‘We promise and delivered’ campaign is focusing on point two of the Policing Pledge – the promise to provide the public with information about their team and how to work with them.

Over the past year we have been looking at innovative ways to ensure you know who your team are, as well as giving you the opportunity to get involved in policing in your area.

Youth panel meetings

One way officers in Peterborough have met this promise is the introduction of youth panel meetings.

A second round of youth panel meetings are set to start in Peterborough after their successful launch last year.

Police and partner agencies are seeking the views of young people by holding the meetings at secondary schools.

They follow a similar format to established neighbourhood panel meetings: pupils are invited to raise issues and concerns so one can be selected as a priority that will be tackled by the relevant agencies over following months.

In November, youngsters at Thomas Deacon Academy asked for improvements to facilities at the city's Central Park.

The perception of crime and issues around neighbourhood management and policing were also raised.

At St John Fisher Catholic High School, in Park Lane, Peterborough, more than 30 pupils attended including 16-year-old sixth form pupil Shaunagh McCleam.

Shaunagh, who was nominated to be on the panel by a teacher, said: “There were posters about the panel meeting around the school and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get my views about the area across.

"Some of my friends went as well and we said there should be more youth facilities in the city centre and things for kids to do at weekends. We also spoke about how young people cannot gather in groups in Queensgate without getting moved on.

"I think the panels are a really good idea because people don’t normally listen to our views but this allows us to get our point across."

Terry Moor, community engagement manager for Peterborough police, said: "The first round of youth panels have now been completed and we're looking forward to the next set starting this month. All the priorities that were set at the first meetings are now being addressed by police and partner agencies."

Other schools taking part are: The Voyager, Arthur Mellows Village College, Ormiston Bushfield Community College, Hampton College, Jack Hunt, Ken Stimpson, Orton Longueville and Stanground College.

Street briefings

In Peterborough’s northern sector have been communicating more closely with the community through a series of street briefings.

The briefings, which have been held outside and indoors, were held in response to issues including anti-social behaviour and burglary.

The most recent was for residents of Eye following a spate of burglaries in the village in November.

Police responded to the crimes by increasing night and day-time patrols and the offences decreased but local neighbourhood officers wanted to update residents on their action and offer crime prevention advice.

Similar briefings were held outdoors following several assaults in Bretton Park in August, and in Partridge Grove, Werrington, regarding concerns about anti-social behaviour.

Want to know who your neighbourhood team is and how you can work with them?

• Visit the ‘My neighbourhood’ pages.
• Panel meetings – attend your quarterly panel meeting to play you to have your say on the priorities for your team. Get an update on the work your team have been doing with partner agencies to tackle issues in your neighbourhood. Meetings are advertised in local papers, on the ‘My neighbourhood’ pages, through e-cops and through your local officer.
• Surgeries – attend one of the regular police surgeries in your area, meet your team and raise any issues you may have. Meetings are advertised through the ‘My neighbourhood’ pages, e-cops and through your local officer.
• Enquiry offices – Pop into your nearest police station where information about your team is displayed and is available to take away.
• e-cops – sign up to the e-cops scheme via the force website and receive regular email updates from your team on progress with neighbourhood priorities, what has happened to those brought to justice in your area and any other crime matters that may be of interest to you.