Notes from Meeting with Marc Jones & Jo Davidson – 9 January .2024
In attendance: Marc Jones - PCC and Jo Davidson (director of Strategy and Operations), Town and District Councillor - Ellie Marsh, Recreation Ground Committee Chairman - Tony Bailey, Recreation ground Committee Secretary G Willis, Town Clerk - J Sargent and Deputy Town Clerk - S Thomas.
Discussions took place regarding the upgrading of the CCTV system in Spilsby and linking it to Boston Police Station Control Centre instead of it being at the Town Council Office. The contract with current supplier, GBSG, ends this year.
Jack explained that Ingoldmells Parish Council had received a large grant for the installation of CCTV and wondered if Spilsby would be able to apply for a Grant of £20,000. Marc explained that funding is available but Spilsby is designated as a safe area compared to Ingoldmells, especially in the Summer months when the population grows dramatically.
Jack also explained that Spilsby had lost all of its PCSO’s and that CCTV is really the only way that antisocial behaviour, vandalism, crime and violence can be monitored. Marc explained that funding had been moved from providing PCSO’s to recruiting more warrant police officers and that quite a few of the current PCSO’s have now joined the Police Force. He also explained that there were now 15 additional Call Centre Staff and that Lincolnshire Police were one of the top areas in answering 999 calls. It is hoped that these new Call Centre Staff would help with answering 111 calls where the response is not so good.
Marc gave details of various methods of contacting the Police should they be needed.
999 is to be used in an emergency and 111 can be used for non urgent calls. Spilsby has a Local Policing Team made up of Matthew Bennison, Andy Burtenshaw, Daniel Green, Gary Pindar-Jones and Teresa Key (although it is believed that she has now moved to Skegness). This information can be found by either using the Police.UK Website or Lincolnshire Police Website. The local team can be contacted either on-line or by post.
If anyone has any issues but doesn’t want to give any personal details then people can contact Crimestoppers either by phone or through their Website.
Lincolnshire Police also has ‘Streetsafe’ which anyone can use if they feel unsafe and is also another tool being used to fight crime.
ELDC have two areas for tackling crime. There is Safer Streets which can be found on their Website and can be used for reporting crime and anti-social behaviour and there is also the Community Safety Partnership which can be accessed either by the ELDC Wesbsite or the Lincolnshire Police Website.
Tony Bailey explained that they are currently in the process of getting funding for the redevelopment of Spilsby Pavillion and Playing Field. Things are really progressing well and they would like to have CCTV installed during the works as they are concerned that as this area will be mostly used by younger people there is an increased risk of vandalism, crime and anti-social behaviour.
Marc explained that Lincolnshire Strong Voices has been set up which is a space for young people aged 11 – 21 to raise any concerns with regards to crime etc in their area.
Jack informed that a local resident had been into the Office and said that the police had been contacted by them regarding crime and anti-social behaviour close to their property, but that the Police had been slow in responding. Marc said that Lincolnshire Police do have a Complaints Page on their Website and encouraged anyone who had any issues with the Police to make a complaint.
Marc informed that some extra funding from the Government would be available from April 2024 which may be available for upgrading the Town’s current CCTV system. Marc recommended that Spilsby Town Council and the Pavillion Committee make 2 separate bids for funding and that evidence would be needed.