TIM DREW: Non-emergency number vital source of information

Street drinking, drug dealing and the shortcoming of the non-emergency 101 number were once again the main topics discussed at the Central Ward panel meeting last Thursday and, while little progress was apparent on these, it was not all bad news.
Tim DrewTim Drew
Tim Drew

Commenting on the recent spate of armed robberies, PCSO Helen Green commented that arrests had been made and were continuing, as was the case in respect of an upsurge in town centre bicycle thefts.

Service on the 101 non-emergency number remains slow but it remains a vital source of intelligence gathering and chairman Ian Richardson impressed on attendees the need to keep using it. Progress is being made towards bringing the system up to standard and the police resourcing centre is filtering out those calls made for no good reason so that more attention can be paid to genuine cases.

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However, councillor Diane Guest commented on the police response on the 999 number as being superb, and it does look as though the focused approach now adopted by the police, in regards to emergencies, is paying off.

The next meeting on Thursday, November 24, will be attended by chief inspector Howard Hodges, district commander of Horsham, and a magistrate is also expected to attend.

Worthing Neighbourhood Watch will hold its final Crime Awareness Event for this year on Saturday (September 24) in either South Street Square or Montague Place, with free bicycle marking services provided. Please bring some form of ID with you, such as a passport or utility bill.

Another date for NHW member’s diaries is the Worthing Neighbourhood Watch AGM, which takes place on Thursday, October 27, at the Police Training Rooms, Centenary House, Durrington Lane, at 7pm;.

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Guests will include PCC Katy Bourne and chief inspector Howard Hodges.

The speaker will be Martin Funnell MBE, chairman of the of Sussex Resilience Forum Risk Group.

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