PC Jitu Dave addressing the meeting Picture by Bob Horrocks

About 120 local residents attended a meeting held by Ward Constable, PC Jitu Dave, at the United Reformed Church, Brookmans Park on Tuesday evening 21 February.

The audience included five of the nine North Mymms Parish Councillors, with Cllr Stephen Boulton also being a District Councillor. Village shopkeepers were well represented.

PC Dave's ward includes Brookmans Park, Little Heath and Newgate Street. He had called the meeting after noting the discussion on this website's forum which showed the great interest residents had in policing the area.

He gave various statistics comparing reported 'incidents' and 'crimes' in his ward with those in all of Hatfield. For example, in January there were 509 crimes reported in Hatfield but only 16 in his ward.

PC Dave gave an insight into how today's police force is organised, which is a far cry from when each village had a 'bobby' living in the village. Those days have gone.

He emphasised that people should report all incidents and crimes, even if nothing appears to be done about it. It helps the police build up a picture of lawlessness in an area. All non-emergency incidents should be reported on 0845 33 00 222, this is a call centre number and a decision is then taken as to how to respond.

The meeting was told that because of recent problems in Brookmans Park there are now more patrols in the village. PC Dave gave an example of how a spate of reported burglaries in Cuffley caused increased police activity in that village, resulting in the arrest of someone, who may have been responsible for some of Brookmans Park's burglaries.

Cllr Boulton noted that people have only recently expressed to him their concern about anti-social behaviour. He said the parish council is to have a meeting with the police next month to discuss the level of policing in this ward. The URC gathering was told that Brookmans Park is not a high crime area.

Various people spoke about nightly problems with youths on the village green and at Gobions. PC Dave asked that all incidents are reported, otherwise the police have no knowledge of them.

You can add your comments about the meeting to the local crime and community policing thread currently running in this site’s discussion forum.

21 February 2006