Residents across Northamptonshire sent in hundreds of questions about crime and safety to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable in an online ‘Chief’s Chat’ session last night (October 21).
Commissioner Danielle Stone and Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet fielded questions on a whole host of issues, ranging from road safety to anti-social behaviour and police visibility, in a live session that was broadcast online and can be viewed below.
This is the first public session of this kind, giving residents a chance to have their voices heard and to be involved in the Commissioner’s role of holding the Chief Constable to account.
More than 100 questions were submitted in advance of the broadcast, with Danielle and Ivan also answering live questions on the night.
One of the most common themes was road safety, with people raising concerns about speeding, driving standards, anti-social road use, and visibility of police on the roads. There was also concern about the use of e-scooters and e-bikes, with people reporting that they felt unsafe walking when they are inappropriately used on pavements.
Many questions focused on anti-social behaviour, with concerns raised about young people on motorbikes. The Chief Constable and Commissioner also addressed questions on police visibility, highlighting the expansion of the neighbourhood policing teams, but also acknowledging the desire from people across the county to see more police on their streets.
The live chat finished at 8pm, with the Commissioner and Chief Constable thanking everyone for submitting their questions, outlining that while they couldn’t answer every one individually, they hoped they had covered all the subjects that had been raised.
Speaking after the livestream, Danielle Stone said: “It is important that members of the public are given the opportunity to ask questions both of myself and the Chief Constable, and that they see us as being visible and accessible to them.
“One of the questions was regarding what the Commissioners do, and a large part of my role is to hold the Chief Constable to account for the performance of Northamptonshire Police.
“This was an excellent opportunity for residents across the county to play a part in that process, and I am delighted that so many people chose to engage with it.
“While it’s clear that there is more work to do to ensure people feel safer in their communities, it was also good to highlight the excellent progress that is being made to tackle some of the bigger issues that are consistently raised with Ivan and myself when we visit people around the county.
Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet added: “I want to thank everybody who took part and asked a question during the Chief’s Chat.
“It’s clear that people want to see more police officers where they live and on their estates. Neighbourhood policing is central to helping create safer towns, and making sure that our police officers are visible and accessible in their communities remains a priority for both Danielle and myself.
“There were a lot of questions about how safe people feel in town centres. Over the summer we put on extra patrols in hotspot areas across the county, and it was clear they had a big impact in terms of tackling criminal activity and anti-social behaviour. It’s important that we crackdown on those kinds of behaviours, which make people feel unsafe when they are out.
“Both Danielle and myself take our duty to the public very seriously. We will look at what we have learned from this session and work together to ensure we deliver the best possible service to the public, and build on the excellent work already delivered by our police officers and PCSOs.”
