Wakefield City Centre business Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings are being re-launched by the town’s Central Neighbourhood Policing Team in the centre of Wakefield.
“At the last Business PACT meeting, we decided it was time to do some consultation work with local shoppers and businesses,” said Sgt Steve Hunt of Wakefield Central Neighbourhood Policing Team.
“We want to engage with people who use the city centre frequently about crime and anti social behaviour to find out their views prior to our next meeting."
As well as the above initiatives Wakefield Central NPT Officers are circulating a survey to existing businesses to collate their views. Site visits are planned to other city and town centre crime partnership schemes in the north of England to see how they do things and bring away any good ideas which can be taken on board locally.
“We are hoping eventually to establish a similar scheme to other town and city centres which have full time co-ordinators,” said Sgt Hunt. “We would very much like to have someone whose specific job is devoted to the Wakefield City Centre Business PACT meetings and to linking in with the other agencies involved such as Wakefield Metropolitan District Council Environmental & Anti-Social Behaviour Units.”
“We now have closer links with the Federation of Small Businesses. They are acutely aware of the impact that crime can have on them and want to come on board."
“We are very positive about the future and value all the support we have received from existing members of the Business PACT meetings in the past. The more people that become involved then the better we can work together to improve the working environment of Wakefield city centre and keep it as an attractive place to visit.”
