Last week I launched my constituency crime survey - you can find it here and hard copies will be delivered across East Worthing & Shoreham over coming weeks. The aim is to provide me with the ammunition to challenge the police about whether locally we are seeing the level of police cover and response that we need. The good news is that we have a record 3,194 officers across the force; the bad news is that too many constituents tell me they cannot see them.
Whilst so-called 'serious crime' remains relatively low our local town and village centres have been blighted recently by a spate of anti-social behaviour often involving mindless vandalism or prolific shoplifting. This week I am organising a roundtable with local police, councillors and traders to see why some shops seem to be better at dealing with shoplifters and others attract them.
Whatever the reality, people's perception of how safe they are is important and it will be useful to have some real time feedback from constituents about their experience of local police so please do fill in the survey.
I have been touring the local railway ticket offices recently in response to the train operator's ill-judged proposals to close most of them. It is clear that their function is not simply flogging tickets. People rely on a real human to advise about best routes and ticket prices, particularly people with disabilities. At Lancing for example, the ticket clerk has to monitor dozens of CCTV screens and help out with disabled access on trains when other staff are deployed elsewhere. It is all very well offering 'roving assistants' on platforms to help passengers but if you cannot see or are confined to a wheelchair how do you find them?
No wonder over 170,000 people have responded to the consultation so far and they have had to extend the deadline to September 1st rather than the end of July. Do make sure you respond if you use the train. Details on my website here.
