On 30th August, I wrote to Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, and Rachel Kearton, Suffolk Chief Constable, urging them to add a Police Connect meeting in the town.
Police Connect meetings are an important initiative to make sure police engage with local communities in Suffolk and listen to the concerns of residents. However, Suffolk’s county town was omitted from the list of locations advertised by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Given that Police Connect meetings were scheduled for four other Suffolk locations, I requested that an additional date in the centre of Ipswich be added, as has been done in the past.
My letter said:
“These events are important opportunities for the public to engage with policing in Suffolk at the highest level, and it is crucial that as many voices as possible are able to provide their insights so the force can better understand the challenges facing people in their day-to-day lives, as well as reflecting on the areas of success.
“Despite being Suffolk’s largest town by some distance, there is a perception that Ipswich is sometimes treated as an afterthought. With that in mind, I believe that omitting our town from these meetings would be a mistake at a time when we need to be fostering positive relationships and providing reassurance to residents.
“I would, therefore, urge the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable to add an additional date in the centre of Ipswich, as has been done in the past.”
My full letter can be viewed here.
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