ST HELENA MOVES TO NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING

On Tuesday, 1 November 2016, the St Helena Police Service formally moved to a Neighbourhood Policing Model.

Chief Inspector of Operations, Steve Riley, explains:

“The concept of problem solving policing with the community is not new. It happens routinely on St Helena and we receive calls for help and advice on a daily basis and seek to solve individual problems.   

“A Neighbourhood Policing Model takes this approach a step further and looks for patterns of offences at a local level.  Where patterns can be identified, the Officer and their team will try to understand what the root causes are.  Could it be something to do with the vulnerability of the victim?  Is it something to do with the location? Are the street lights working?  Are we getting continual speeding due to the layout of the road?  Or could it be something to do with the offender?  Why do they offend in that area?  What can we do to disrupt or arrest them? Is it a combination of more than one element?”

Chief Inspector Riley added:

“I firmly believe that although the Island is one large community, and there may be issues which affect everyone on St Helena – there are issues which affect individual neighbourhoods.  So for example there could be something which upsets and annoys the community of Sandy Bay which does not annoy the residents of Jamestown.” 

As part of this move towards Neighbourhood Policing, Police Officers will this week commence ‘beat surgeries’ in various places around the Island (see dates & times below). These surgeries are designed to take place in busy areas where it is easier for more people to attend.

A questionnaire will also be available so people can tell the Police what concerns them most in their area. This will help the Police identify patterns which will help them to develop a problem solving plan.

Chief Inspector Riley concluded:

“Feedback both ways is crucial.  It is pointless holding surgeries if we don’t then tell the community what we have done.  For each problem solving plan there will be individual feedback if requested – and always wider feedback for the community outlining what we have done and the results.  What we want to do is put Policing back in the hands of the community who can then influence the type of service they receive.”

Beat Surgeries – Dates & Times

SHG

7 November 2016