Bus blamed for absence of officer (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Bus blamed for absence of officer

VILLAGERS in South Cerney have blasted local police community support officers after it was claimed no visits were being made to the village because it had not been proven safe to travel on buses.

South Cerney Parish Council received a letter from Inspector Mike Jacka, who has since retired, several months ago saying officers would not be coming to the village as at the moment no transport was available.

And at a meeting of the parish council last week, members were told that when the council wrote back to the police suggesting the CPSOs take the bus out to the village they received a reply saying this was not possible as the local bus had not been checked out for health and safety.

This week the police denied the statement and said the police inspector in charge of local PCSOs would be attending a meeting next month to iron out the problems.

But Mike Stuart, chairman of the parish council, slammed Gloucestershire Police for failing to correspond with the councils requests.

He said: "It's disgusting. It makes me wonder why we pay our rates. Our concern is we are getting no feedback from the constabulary."

The council were originally introduced to Ian Yeomans at the end of last year as their principal PCSO. However, since then they have seen precious little of him.

The chairman added: "He might be visiting the village at night but we just don't know."

Parish councillor Philip Nicholas said: "To be given the excuse that he can't get into the village because of health and safety is outrageous." He added: "We as the public are suffering."

Martin Smith, landlord of the Royal Oak in The Street, said: "We haven't seen him at all. No one ever sees a policeman walking round in the village. It's a real concern. "Local residents, especially at night, are worried."

The council now intend to write to the Chief Superintendent based in Cirencester asking why the constabulary is not listening to the committee. Cllr Clive Bennett (Water Park, Con) was furious and described the decision as crazy.

He said: "If his duty involves covering South Cerney, then he should get out and cover South Cerney. Normal fare paying people can cover it so if that's the real reason then why can't he."

However, police spokesman Matt Ford denied health and safety checks needed to be carried out on the buses and said previously an arrangement had been made that PCSOs could travel for free on local buses when carrying out their duty.

He added: "As far as we are aware there are no health and safety issues regarding buses and the PCSOs using them.

"But the police are not obliged to attend parish council meetings. Although desirable, we only have limited resources and if we attended every meeting there would be little time left for anything else."