Maryport's police aided by town's community spirit
Last updated 15:48, Thursday, 31 July 2008
You will have seen Police Community Support officers around Maryport's town centre. Distinguised by the blue band around their headgear, these officers are the eyes and ears of fulltime community officers like Liz Hampson. They give her and her colleagues the opportunity to concentrate on problem solving and tackling potential problems before they happen.
"Maryport is a great town, I love it. It still has that sense of community which other places have lost. The place has a really good spirit."
Despite its community spirit, the town is not immune from problems and her role is as much about prevention as tackling ongoing crime. The importance of anticipating problems does not go unrecognised and council members, business managers, residents and sixth formers meet regularly to discuss possible issues and problems which may be headed off before they become a problem.
"The meetings are a useful way of identifying potential problems. These kind of discussions have resulted in some significant improvement in the environment for everyone living and working in Maryport."
Community officers have new powers to invoke dispersal orders. Groups of people in the town centre who have previosuly been an intimidating presence to shoppers and visitors can now be moved on by officers and ordered to disperse. Once moved on, they are prohibited from returning to the area within twenty four hours.
"This has proved to be a successful way of improving the environment for everyone in town."
Community officers had also identified a particular issue with the use of mobile phones whilst driving within Maryport. Officers have responded to complaints with their own operation to stamp out the habit.
"We organised spotters around Maryport and witnesses to catch people driving and using their mobiles. It's been a really successful campaign. The number of local residents caught has fallen dramatically as word has got round the place. It's the visitors to town who are the main culprits nowadays. It's just one example of community officers acting on local concerns and making a difference."
A sense of community still prevails in Maryport and local community officers are the first to recognise the value of local support and information.
