Dear Sir,
I don’t normally respond to letters placed in the paper as everyone is entitled to their opinion but when letters aren’t factually correct and appear misleading I feel that as the Neighbourhood Police Inspector I have a responsibility to comment.
In reply to Independent Councillor George Gray’s letter titled ‘Police Accused of forgetting West Ward’ I would like to place a fairer balance on some of Councillor Gray’s comments:-
• We never forget any area of the town and we work in partnership with a large number of agencies to ensure that the people of Newton Aycliffe get the service they need.
• Crime and Anti Social Behaviour is falling across Newton Aycliffe as a whole. This should give everyone confidence and reassurance.
• Councillor Gray fails to mention that within the West Ward itself crime is down by 18% and Anti Social Behaviour has fallen by 17%
• Councillor Gray knows that the West Ward has a Neighbourhood Police Officer allocated to the area. However, the current officer is off on maternity leave
• Even though this officer is off we have a team of Neighbourhood officer’s who have covered this area collectively in her absence
• The West Ward has probably had a greater ratio of Neighbourhood Police Officer’s working there over the past 12 months than in any other part of the town
• Two new Neighbourhood Police Constables are coming to Newton Aycliffe. I informed Councillor Gray and the community of this at the public meeting held at St. Mary’s Church. They commenced with Durham Constabulary around September / October 2012 and have been at headquarters and on the streets of County Durham in training since this time.
As stated at this meeting I informed them that they would be permanently in Newton Aycliffe in the early part of 2013.
They arrive on 5th February and one of these officer’s (PC Holohan) is dedicated to the West Ward area of the town
Neighbourhood Inspector 1846 Mark Hall
