If you're not aware there are seven schools in the Crosby Park Ward. I believe working with the schools is a very important area of Neighbourhood Policing and I encourage my team to work with the schools as closely as possible. Our role is not only to support the schools in terms of discipline and behaviour, it is vital that we also are involved in the positive aspects of student's lives and development. Young people today receive a very bad press which in the main is undeserved and we need to promote the positives. There has been a lot of good contact with all of the schools in the last month and from my point of view and our working relationship is continuously improving.

On the 11th October there was a Neighbourhood Action Team (NAT) meeting held at the Crosby Community Association (CCA). This was a joint meeting for Town Ward and Crosby & Park Ward. There has been some difficulty in establishing the NATs for these wards but it is important that we persist with this as it is a vital part of Neighbourhood Policing and Multi-agency working. The meeting was facilitated by Anne Cook from CCA and was well attended and my supervision and I were really pleased with the event. Thanks to Anne and all of those who attended.

On the 12th October I met with Helen Parker who is heading up a Diversity Unit based at High Ridge Sports Academy but which serves all schools in the area. One of the functions of this unit is engagement with Polish children and their parents. For some time now I have been trying to find ways to engage with this community and working with Helen, I believe provides us with an excellent opportunity to do so.

The Respect Patrols which are aimed at dealing with youths causing annoyance and underage drinking continue to be very successful and I know the community of Scunthorpe are happy that they now receive a prompt response to such incidents. It is noticeable that some of the Hotspots are somewhat quieter nowadays.

I, like many other Humberside Police Officers were somewhat disappointed in the way the local press reported the latest Police performance statistics. "5th worst in the country" did not reflect the hard work, dedication and progress the force has made. We know there is stil room for improvement and we are determined to do so but great progress has been made already. This got me to thinking, if a certain local football team are 5th from bottom at the end of the season I am sure people would see this as a great success bearing in mind where they have come from. I am also confident the press would report this as a success and not as "5th worst in the league".

Up the Iron!

Mark

Hello and here we go.

This Blog has come about because one of the ward Councillors Mark Kirk blogs on this site and he suggested that it would be a good thing for me to do this as a means of contact with the community and keeping people updated. It has all been facilitated by Sally Mc David, Digital Solutions Manager at North Lincolnshire Council. I want to thank them both for their support and assistance.

As far as we are aware this is the first blog by a serving Police Officer in relation to the role as a Police Officer. Please feel free to use this as a means of contact and information sharing. We would value feedback because if this proves popular consideration will be given to other Neighbourhood Officers using this facility. Anything you pass on will be reviewed before being made public.