Priorities For Policing In Shetland

[PoliceScotlandShetland]

 

Hi,

 

As part of the on-going consultation process for the policing & fire plans for Shetland a series of public meetings re being held throughout Shetland over the next few weeks - anyone is welcome to attend any event.

 

Fetlar Community Hall, 07.01.2013 at 7pm;

Lerwick Fire Station, Wednesday 8th January at 7pm;

Baltasound JHS, Tuesday 14th at 6pm;

Scalloway Fire Station, Wednesday 15th at 7pm;

Bixter Hall, Thursday 16th at 7pm;

Sandwick Fire Station, Thursday 23rd at 7pm;

Mid Yell Fire Station, Friday 24th at 6pm

Whalsay Fire Station, Saturday 25th at 6.30pm.

 

Please attend these meetings to let us (police & fire) know what you think the issues priorities should be.

 

Tonights meetings was at Brae Fire Station where the issues highlighted to the police were:

 

• Synthetic Highs
• Speeding vehicles - including buses, lorries and cars
• Risky overtaking
• Vehicle lighting
• Anti-social behaviour near licensed premises.

 

Angus

Scalloway has a Public Hall which is in the middle of the village whilst the Fire Station is quite a way outside the village.

 

This means that those who do not drive will, very probably, not attend your meeting.

 

To attend, non drivers would be obliged to walk on a busy and fairly narrow section of main road which has no pavement or lighting for a distance of at least 1/2 mile of it's length.

 

Well thought out (not).  Why?

 

As you claimed, recently, that the Police have a duty(?) in respect of public safety, I would also be interested in hearing who would be deemed (at least partially) liable should a pedestrian be injured on his/her way to the meeting.

 

 

Colin,

 

Thanks for raising this point. The Scalloway meeting is for all residents who live in the Shetland Central ward - covering Burra to Tingwall and not exclusively just for Scalloway residents. The venues were set after discussion between partner agencies with the Scalloway fire station being selected as it has amble parking (it is anticipated that more attendees will be driving that walking) and it also allows people to view the fire station.

 

However, should anyone from Scalloway need a lift they can let me know and the police community contact van will be a Scalloway Public Hall at 645pm to take them to the fire station and can then return them to the public hall afterwards.

 

Angus

[paulb]

could you do something about the younger folks speeding out of the car park at victoria pier at night. they seem to be racing or doing circuits 

[Colin]

Thanks for raising this point. The Scalloway meeting is for all residents who live in the Shetland Central ward - covering Burra to Tingwall and not exclusively just for Scalloway residents. The venues were set after discussion between partner agencies with the Scalloway fire station being selected as it has amble parking (it is anticipated that more attendees will be driving that walking) and it also allows people to view the fire station.

 

However, should anyone from Scalloway need a lift they can let me know and the police community contact van will be a Scalloway Public Hall at 645pm to take them to the fire station and can then return them to the public hall afterwards.

 

Angus

 

 

Angus,

 

Thanks for the reply  but, I think that you have missed the point.

 

Holding the meeting at Scalloway Fire Station will ensure that very few people are likely to turn up because it is outside the village.

 

I would also be willing to bet that no one from Tingwall or Burra will turn up unless they have some kind of grievance.

 

It might also be worth considering that Scalloway Hall can seat 300 people whilst the Fire Station cannot seat anything like that number.

 

Given that the population of the cachement area you quote is somewhere in the region of 3000 souls, why not hold separate meetings for Burra and Tingwall?  Both have well appointed Public Halls with excellent capacity, plenty of parking, are easily reached by pedestrians, and both would be able to accommodate all members of the community who wished to attend.

 

As for offering to 'bus' pedestrians from Scalloway Hall to the meeting.  Good idea but, are you going to put up posters to advertise this service and, are you also able to offer the same concession to non-driving residents of Burra and Tingwall because, to the best of my knowledge, there is no bus service available to fulfill the need.

[Ghostrider]

@ Colin: I suspect "much cheapness" is a driving factor here, with accessibility taking a back seat. Fire Stations (I presume) will probably be made available gratis, most (if not all) halls need paying.

 

Walls or Sandness having to go to Bixter isn't great, and as for poor old Skerries, Papa Stour, Fair Isle and Foula, they really have no realistic chance of getting to any of them.

 

I'm tending to agree with you overall, that unless for maybe Fetlar, Unst and Bixter, the other venues and the limited geographical coverage of them can only discourage attendance. More venues central to more communities, instead of central to a much larger area, but close to only a few residences, you'd think would be more productive.

[Colin]

@ Colin: I suspect "much cheapness" is a driving factor here, with accessibility taking a back seat. Fire Stations (I presume) will probably be made available gratis, most (if not all) halls need paying.

 

Walls or Sandness having to go to Bixter isn't great, and as for poor old Skerries, Papa Stour, Fair Isle and Foula, they really have no realistic chance of getting to any of them.

 

I'm tending to agree with you overall, that unless for maybe Fetlar, Unst and Bixter, the other venues and the limited geographical coverage of them can only discourage attendance. More venues central to more communities, instead of central to a much larger area, but close to only a few residences, you'd think would be more productive.

Are you suggesting (in a round about kind of way) that the 'community involvement' part is a little half hearted and that the whole exercise is nothing more than 'box ticking' ?

[Davie P]

Surely you guys could get your generally constructive points across without the cynicism and sarcasm.

 

Personally, I'm looking forward to the chance to visit my local fire station! Quite an appropriate venue for a discussion about policing and fire plans I think.

[Colin]

Surely you guys could get your generally constructive points across without the cynicism and sarcasm.

 

Personally, I'm looking forward to the chance to visit my local fire station! Quite an appropriate venue for a discussion about policing and fire plans I think.

Cynical? yes Sarcastic? No

 

Do you honestly believe that the 'priorities for policing' are set by what 'the people' actually want?

 

If so, why aren't the jails full of bankers and politicians?

 

As for the involvement of 'Partner Agencies'.  Apart from the Fire Service (mainly volunteers), just who are they?

 

As for seeing the inside of the Fire Station, they had an Open Day a little while back.  If you missed it, I am sure that the volunteers would let you have a look around the next time they are in there.

 

SARCASM

        Is the same true of the local 'nick'?

/SARCASM

Edited January 12, 2014 by Colin

[shetlandpeat]

The current Policing Plan for Shetland states that the Police should engage consultation with different groups and the public. Which is what they do to create the plan. As the plan involves the Fire Brigade, and they have suitable buldings to hold such meetings, why should additional costs be taken to rent a hall.  What did surprise me from the form, as it uses census details is that over 14% of the population has hearing difficulties.

 

I am sure Colin tha you are one of the people listed in part 2.1 of the current plan. Where the public were involved. The results were similar to the results from consultation with SYIS, StYPP, schools, Equality Groups, SSCAG, SCCs and ASCC.

Edited January 12, 2014 by shetlandpeat

[Colin]

"As the plan involves the Fire Brigade, and they have suitable buildings to hold such meetings, why should additional costs be taken to rent a hall. "

 

"What did surprise me from the form, as it uses census details is that over 14% of the population has hearing difficulties."

 

Did you actually READ my previous posts?

[owre-weel]

 

Did you actually READ my previous posts?

I dunna tink he can read

[Ghostrider]

 

@ Colin: I suspect "much cheapness" is a driving factor here, with accessibility taking a back seat. Fire Stations (I presume) will probably be made available gratis, most (if not all) halls need paying.

 

Walls or Sandness having to go to Bixter isn't great, and as for poor old Skerries, Papa Stour, Fair Isle and Foula, they really have no realistic chance of getting to any of them.

 

I'm tending to agree with you overall, that unless for maybe Fetlar, Unst and Bixter, the other venues and the limited geographical coverage of them can only discourage attendance. More venues central to more communities, instead of central to a much larger area, but close to only a few residences, you'd think would be more productive.

Are you suggesting (in a round about kind of way) that the 'community involvement' part is a little half hearted and that the whole exercise is nothing more than 'box ticking' ?

 

 

Well, seeing as you put it like that....there's really not a lot I can say in my defence, as the general impression I'm starting get of this "consultation" exercise is significantly less than a positive one.

[Davie P]

Well thought out (not).  Why?

Cynical? yes Sarcastic? No

Well thought out (not).  Why?

Cynical? yes Sarcastic? No

[Colin]

 

Well thought out (not).  Why?

Cynical? yes Sarcastic? No

Well thought out (not).  Why?

Cynical? yes Sarcastic? No

 

Not sarcasm at all.  Just a bald statement and question.

[Colin]

Well, seeing as you put it like that....there's really not a lot I can say in my defence, as the general impression I'm starting get of this "consultation" exercise is significantly less than a positive one.

 

 

And there was me thinking I was putting words into your mouth....

[Davie P]

Do you honestly believe that the 'priorities for policing' are set by what 'the people' actually want?

 

If so, why aren't the jails full of bankers and politicians?

 

As for the involvement of 'Partner Agencies'.  Apart from the Fire Service (mainly volunteers), just who are they?

 

As for seeing the inside of the Fire Station, they had an Open Day a little while back.  If you missed it, I am sure that the volunteers would let you have a look around the next time they are in there.

 

SARCASM

        Is the same true of the local 'nick'?

/SARCASM

Yes, I do believe that 'priorities for policing' are set by what 'the people actually want'. Locally, I have always found the police to be approachable and proactive, and nationally their priorities are set by an elected government.

 

Furthermore, I think it's very positive that Angus contributes to this thread despite the tone of your replies to him, and I hope he and other people aren't put off from contributing.

 

I fail to see how the current meetings can be portrayed in the negative light that you seem determined to cast over them. Perhaps the meetings could be more accessible for some folk, perhaps the local constabulary are tied to national policy..... but you really do seem hell bent on putting your usual negative spin on things.

 

I have no idea who the 'Partner Agencies' are, if your question is directed at me.

 

I don't recall my local Fire Station having an open day recently, and I'm sure the local volunteers have better things to do that let a nosey sausage like me have a snoop around