Policing Our Neighbourhoods - My Meeting with Superintendent Gilmour

In October Thames Valley Police and the Police & Crime Commissioner did a presentation on activity in the Thames Valley and Reading area and there were some worrying statistics around drug crime.

You can see the papers and watch the meeting here.  My questions and response were reported in the papers.  I was concerned about daylight drug dealing in Battle ward.  Several residents had reported this to me and felt their calls to the police were not being responded to.

“My residents are extremely concerned about drugs in their area.
“You can now see people dealing drugs on the streets - in broad daylight it’s no longer a hidden activity, it’s happening on a daily basis.
“What can people do to make sure daylight drug dealing is a thing of the past in Reading?"

So Superintendent Gilmour and I promised to meet up.

Our meeting last week was a very productive one.  First off I made it clear I understood police budgets are being cut and that the police are under a lot of pressure, just as council budgets are being cut.  These cuts are all part of the Conservative government's austerity programme, something I believe is damaging lives and communities across the country. 

He told me how the neighbourhood teams are being realigned with borough wards and how they are taking pro-active action against crimes.  I asked that the results of this action be better communicated - criminals are being caught but we don't always get to hear about it.

He stressed that is it vital that incidents are reported to either 999 in an emergency or 101.  It's these reports and the intelligence they contain that helps the police allocate resources.  You may not have an officer call round but you will be helping highlight an issue in your area.

We have arranged to hold a series of events in Battle ward so residents can have their concerns heard.  I will be at all of them.  So we are going to:

• Hold a World Cafe at Battle Library.  We will have tea and cake and discuss three or so 'hot topics'.  Tel me what they should be.
• Get the bus! We will borrow a Reading Buses bus, park it somewhere in Battle ward and hold a Have Your Say meeting where you can pop along to chat to me or the police about your concerns. 
• Hold street surgeries.  These are always popular.  We pick a date, time and a couple of streets and come to you.  You will have a notice popped through your door a few days before which you display in your window if you want us to call by.  Tell me which streets we should visit.

We didn't just discuss Battle ward.  I've been contacted by residents across Reading West about crimes ranging from anti-social behaviour, dangerous scooter riding and car break ins.

Superintendent Gilmour assured me that these events are available to any community is Reading so even if you're not a Battle resident you can contact me, or your local ward councillors, with a suggestion about the location of future events.  I can be contacted on cllrsarahhacker@virginmedia.com or sarah.hacker@reading.gov.uk as well as on social media.

We had a few minutes spare at the end of a very productive meeting so we took part in an exercise Superintendent Gilmour does pretty much everyday - decide on the priority of police activities.  It was quite difficult.  Do you prioritise staff training over catching burglers?  Here's what I had decided on after 5 minutes.  I could have done with a lot longer!

I fully appreciate the hard work our police force undertake to keep us all safe however budget cuts are reducing the preventative work they can do.  Remember, these cuts are being made by a Conservative government.  It is reported that Thames Valley Police are to see a further £22 million cut from their budgets over the next three years with a reduction of 59 police officer roles.  This needs to be reviewed and the police properly funded as our communities deserve better!

Oxford Road Timebank Spring Event

I have blatently pinched this from the Oxford Road Timebank but it says all you need to know!  See you there.....

Spring Event Battle Library - Saturday 17th May 10.00-12.30

Cakes and refreshments Face-painting Craft corner for our young Timebankers Reading Bicycle Kitchen – Bring along your bikes if they need fixing or servicing!! There will also be a craft corner for adults; knitting, crochet and other crafts. Please bring your projects along and join us. If you would like to learn something new there will be people on hand to help and offer advice on how to get started.   If you would like to be involved or need help with anything at all, please come along to our event; we would love to see you there. For more information please email: admin@oxfordroadtimebank.org.uk Timebanking is a way to build a community that helps one another. For every hour you give, you earn a time credit which you can spend when you need help yourself. It’s free to join; please come along, we’d love to meet you!

We're Battling against energy price hikes! Freeze That Bill!

Tomorrow Reading Labour will be holding a street stall campaiging against energy price hikes
with a petition and will have information about The Freeze That Bill campaign.  We had planned this street stall well before Southern Electric annouced their 8.2% price rise so it is now even more relevent.  Join us:

Outside Battle Library

Saturday 12 October

10.30 am

Apparently Southern Electric only make less than £2 profit a week.  When I got this letter today I wondered if I was meant to feel sorry for them.  They say they will only get about the same profit as last year.  Last year the company behind Southern Electric made half yearly profits of £398 million (see here).

During winter 2012/2013 families struggles to afford fuel.  I know people who had to decide between heat and food - a choice no family should have to face. 

The Labour Party say:

'Since David Cameron entered Downing Street, energy bills have risen by almost £300 a year for families, while businesses say energy is the second biggest cost they face.'

Ed Miliband announced at Labour’s Annual Conference that a One Nation Labour Government will put a stop to unfair price rises by freezing energy bills up to January 2017, saving a typical household £120.

To deliver fairness in the long term, we will reset the energy market, increasing competition and transparency, introduce a simple new tariff structure, and replace OFGEM with a tough new energy watchdog from January 2017.'

Our parliamentary candidate Victoria Groulef said: “When the price of energy increases energy companies pass this on but when it drops consumers don’t see their bills fall.
 

“The bill freeze would help families across our region who are facing a rising cost of living crisis and it encourages the industry to be fairer to its customers. By 2017 Labour would create a tough new energy regulator to ensure that the system remains fair for consumers. 

 “Businesses and people round here need help now, so I’m calling on David Cameron to take action and freeze our bills now before the cold snap hits.”

If you want to see what you can save then use the energy calculator here.

Battle Consultation on £1.5 Million Begins!

The consultation on how to allocate the £1.5 million received as a Section 106 contribution from the Battle Hospital re-development starts next week!  Battle councillors started pushing for this consultation in December 2011 when the Primary Care Trust withdrew from the planned medical centre.

Residents in the consultation area will receive a questionnaire by post but you can also complete the survey online (see button on the right).  There is a launch event at Battle Library on 16 April where Battle councillors and council officer will be available to discuss how the money can be spent and any ideas you may have.  I have to admit I am really looking forward to seeing what you, the residents, think is important and the ideas you have.

It was a Super Saturday indeed!

Well, what a great day yesterday was.  I woke to the sound of driving rain and lashing wind and visions of soaking Reading Labour activists handing out soggy leaflets to the few bedraggled Battle residents who'd battled the weather to go the the library or the shops.  How wrong was I!

We has a great time yesterday morning.  The winds died down, the rain stopped and even the sun shone!  We spoke to loads of Battle residents and over 200 people signed our petitions against the Mummy Tax and Bedrooom Tax.  Thank goodness battle Library has a photocopier because we started running ou of petition sheets!

The turn out from campaigners was fab.  So many people out to help and a big thank you to them all!  We even picked up new supporters and members for both Battle and Norcot.

Victoria Groulef is proving to be a popular parliamentary candidate.  She got to speak to many residents yesterday who are clearly very unhappy with the Tory/LibDem government.

 The lovely day didn't end there.  The boys and I headed off into the back garden yesterday afternoon.  The post-winter tidy up has begun with earnest. While having  rummage we discovered some carrots leftover from last year.  The joy on the boys faces as they pulled up tiny wobbly carrot after tiny wobbly carrot was wonderful.  We are going to have a look through the seeds I bought in the sale last year and plan our veggie crops.

The fight against the attack on families begins in #rdg!

This weekend Reading Labour launch their campaign against the cuts raining down on families in Reading.

This afternoon  Sharon Hodges MP, invited by Victoria Groulef our parliamentary candidate in Reading West, will be visiting Gloucester Road Playgroup to discuss the proposed changes to childcare.  She will also be launching our 'Mums not Millionaires' campaign.

The Government are proposing the increase the number of children each childcare professional can look after.  The childcare sector are opposed to changes to the adult to child ratios.  The Pre-School Learning Alliance have serious concerns that these changes will effect child safety and support (see here). 

Tomorrow (Saturday 16 Feb) we will also be campaigning against the 'Mummy Tax' and 'Bedroom Tax' in my ward, Battle.

The Tory/Lib Dem Government are restricting Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from April this year.  It will be increased by just 1% a year which, with the cost of living increasing by 3.3% (RPI see here), is effectively a year on year cut. I have had two children and know how difficult it is to live on SMP as it usually does not cover your pre-maternity income.  It will be even harder when SMP does not keep up with the real costs of living.  This is another cut falling on women and families.

Other cuts this Government have implemented include:

• The end of the £190 Health in Pregnancy Grant
• The end of the £250 Child Trust Fund Voucher
• Child Benefit frozen for 3 years then increasing by 1% in 2014/2015 (another real terms cut)
• Removing the baby addition to the Child Tax Credit
• Cuts to the subsidy for childcare through the Working Tax Credit

The effects of the 'Bedroom Tax' are well documented.  Opposition councillors have accused us of scaremongering but the sad fact is, it's the 'Bedroom Tax' which is causing the fear.

People are actually scared for their futures, worrying about how they will find the money to cover this charge and whether they will be able to find alternative accommodation.  Let's not forget this nasty 'tax' may also force people from their homes, communities and away from their support networks.

This is all happening while millionaires are being given a tax cut!  I have nothing against millionaires, well done to you if you have that kind of income, but let's not hammer those least able to afford it while those that can get a break!

If you would like to join us or sign the petitions tommorrow, we will be outside Battle Library from 11.