Police defend town's neglect claims (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Police defend town's neglect claims

3:27pm Friday 9th May 2008 in

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CUMBRIA Police have hit back at claims they have been neglecting a South Lakeland town.

Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council accused the authority of "letting down" the community, when it met on Wednesday. But a high-ranking inspector has refuted the comments, saying the force is "focused" and "dedicated" to helping all communities fight crime.

At Wednesday's meeting councillors complained after their local officer failed to attend and the public gathered heard how members of the council had tried to contact the PC about policing issues, but had been unsuccessful.

Vice chairman Allan Muirhead said: "The town is being let down by the policing level at the moment.

"They (the police) talk about liaison and cooperation but we are here on a monthly basis and the public is here on a monthly basis yet they are not. It isn't rocket science to come and listen along with the public."

But inspector Ian Carruthers said the town benefited from several tiers of police support and said anyone with concerns about the service should contact him.

"Kirkby Lonsdale has a dedicated neighbourhood police officer, PC Ian Rowlinson, and a PCSO, Karen Dakin, who also covers Sedbergh. Both are dedicated to tackling neighbourhood policing issues with input from local people and partner agencies," he said.

"Kirkby Lonsdale is also served by the wider Kendal Rural Neighbourhood Policing team, 24-hour response officers based in Milnthorpe and Sedbergh, the roads policing unit and teams of detectives and specialist officers from across South Cumbria.

"All officers work a shift pattern and we try our hardest to ensure that communities have access to neighbourhood police officers as often as possible.

"In this instance the town council meeting was brought forward a week and this clashed with pre arranged commitments of the local officers.

"We encourage residents to approach community officers and PCSOs directly to discuss longer term community issues, but anyone who requires a more immediate response should call the Cumbria Constabulary switchboard on 0845 33 00 247. In an emergency dial 999.

"Ultimately, the constabulary is focused on working in partnership with communities. Anyone with concerns about local policing in the Kirkby Lonsdale area should in the first instance contact me on 0845 33 00 247."