Police chief warns fight against crime needs to be co-ordinated

Police chiefs across the country have faced increasing pressure to maintain crime-fighting as well as community policing in the face of the public sector cuts which are being imposed by the Government.

North Yorkshire Police’s Deputy Chief Constable, Tim Madgwick, admitted that “challenging times lie ahead”, but he was adamant that a more co-ordinated approach between agencies and community groups will help counter the effects of the financial savings. The North Yorkshire force is alone having to make £19m in savings between March 2011 and March 2015.

Mr Madgwick said: “To resort to a parochial stance at this time would be to everyone’s detriment. Rather, we must take this strong foundation and evolve, finding efficiency through innovation.

“There are exciting opportunities to work with a wide range of partners such as the Health and Wellbeing Board to transform the rehabilitation of offenders with new service providers and the Local Criminal Justice Board as well as empowering citizens to work with us to protect our communities. Challenging times lie ahead, but we will work together to ensure we overcome them.”

Key partners from around the region attended York Council’s third Crime Summit on Friday to discuss community safety, and in particular combating alcohol misuse and domestic violence.

The keynote speech was made by Mr Madgwick on the national overview of community safety.

York Council’s cabinet member for crime and stronger communities, Coun Linsay Cunningham-Cross, said: “We are a safe city and crime continues to fall due to this strong partnership working.

“We want to continue to build on this excellent partnership working we have in place to continue to make this city safer.”