IT’S a shame that in writing to you about local policing Jeff Green has to descend into overstatement and personal abuse.
Your readers know that the police part of the Cheshire Council Tax has been the lowest of any shire force. In public consultation 87% of people agreed an average increase of £1.50 per month was acceptable to them. Keeping Council Tax low has saved residents more than £90m over the past five years compared, for instance, to West Mercia. But this has been investment lost to local policing in Cheshire.
The debate we started on alcohol misuse and poor parenting has resulted in a national debate and politicians competing with each other to deal with the concerns we raised.
We cannot have a society where law-abiding folk feel they cannot remonstrate with those up to no good or protect their own property.
In my comments to the Press on this matter I have always said that people need to use their common sense and, in most cases, it is better to observe to take descriptions or photos, if possible, and phone the police.
Many people, however, do take a stand through giving evidence, getting into Homewatch, or volunteering as a Special Constable and areas are safer as a result.
My officers are out every day locking up offenders, executing search warrants and seizing criminal assets. That is why the prisons are full to the brim and why we are seeing a significant reduction in crime in the county.
Peter Fahy
Chief Constable
