<![CDATA[Tonight’s Local Community Meeting (LCM)]]>Tonight was the LCM where the community from Blenheim Park, Chalkwell, Prittlewell and Westborough wards get to meet with the police and discuss serious and ‘less serious’ crime that has been happening in the area, since the last meeting.

 We had an update from the police, for the four wards, there have been (7th October to 30th November):

58 fewer burglaries than the same period last year. However they are carrying on Operation Insight (which concentrates on burglary) as this is the major priority for the neighbourhood police and residents alike.

184 instances of Anti-Social Behaviour (220 in same period 2014), which isn’t too bad given this includes Halloween and Bonfire Night. 

Residents raised issues of: the theft of white sacks (textile recycling), cars driving on pavements (at the Shell petrol station) to cut through the traffic lights on the A127, youths smoking cannabis (I won’t disclose the location!), bogus callers (particularly after antiques) and hoax emails being circulated and speeding in various locations.

The police took away the information and will be looking into most of these issues where they can.

We also received a short talk on crime prevention, focusing on car locks being jammed.

I haven’t had any criminal activity or major antisocial behaviour reported to me over the last 2-3 months (this is the first time I haven’t had anything to raise at a LCM or their precursor Neighbourhood Action Panel). I’d like to say it is because Blenheim Park is crime and antisocial behaviour free, but I’m sure that’s not the case – so please come along to my surgery (first Saturday of the month 10:30am to 12noon at the Old West Area Housing Office, 2 Mendip Road, SS0 0HD or email me: cllrcourtenay@southend.gov.uk and I’ll be happy to discuss any issues you have and see how I can take them forward for you.

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