Thursday 24th October 2024
My first visit of the day was to the offices of the Hinckley BID. I was there to meet the new Chief Executive, Helen Crouch. She’s got a tough act to follow as her predecessor Steve Wegeriff had been at the helm for 15 successful years. But having met her, I think Helen will do well.
Although still getting her feet under the table, Helen has some enterprising ideas.
“See that sofa you are sitting on?” she asked. I remarked that it was very comfortable. She agreed “We are going to put it in the Britannia Centre with a rug and coffee table. It will serve as a friendship sofa for people to stop and chat.” Grand. She’s also got plans to help the town’s pubs and restaurants as well as to expand the system helping cut retail theft.
A stroll down Castle Street was enlivened by a pair of musicians knocking out some old classics. I put a couple of coins in the hat. It is good to have quality musical entertainment when out shopping. I was heading to the Hollycroft Park to meet the council’s Green Spaces Team at the Pavillion.
There was a minor hiccup when I went to the bandstand, but soon realised my mistake and met up with Cllr Lynda Hodgkins and her team. The team members were busy planting wall flowers into flowerbeds for the winter. It was fascinating to hear how the Green Spaces Team were co-operating with the police and others to keep the parks and gardens of the borough safe for residents. The Public Spaces Protection Order, recently introduced, helps as it gives police and others additional powers to deal with Anti-Social Behaviour.
It proved to be a day for going astray. My next call was with the National Farmers Union in Market Bosworth. My satnav confidently directed me into somebody’s front garden, which was not quite right. Once I’d got to the correct office building, I found County Adviser Dilwyn Harries waiting for me with a welcome cup of tea.
Dilwyn is another newcomer, having taken up post only a fortnight earlier. Fortunately, he already knows our two counties well and had already met the pro-active Rural Policing Team at Leicestershire Police. Dilwyn also had a good grip on the issues facing farmers when it came to crime and vandalism. Fortunately, our Rural Team are on the case and driving down crime.
I then headed to Fenny Drayton where I met some local ladies at the church. I had some spare time, so I also knocked on a few doors to chat to residents – one of whom turned out to be a retired police officer. It was while talking to the gentleman pruning bushes at the churchyard that we were approached by an elderly lady who asked where she was. When we told her she replied “I thought so. My son was supposed to drop me at the church in Witherley. I was glad it was not only myself who was getting lost. I cut short my chat and drove the lady to Witherley church.
My next call was with one of the Rural Policing Team, PC Statt. He’s on restricted duties now awaiting an operation for an injured knee, but this allows him the time to do some much-valued community support work. Which is why I met him at the Home Farm in Upton. We had a look at some of the new security equipment and guidelines that are helping farmers reduce machinery theft and other rural crimes.
It was a positive end to my day.
Rupert Matthews
Police & Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland
Posted on Monday 4th November 2024