There was a special police tasking meeting this evening (Weds 28th August) about a recent pick up in some types of crime on the Gospel Estate over the summer. It was led by Inspector Jim Goodrich, with PC Ian Davis and PCSO Chelsie Beardmore from the neighbourhood policing team there too. There was a good turnout from the community with many people who do not normally attend tasking meetings attending.

Inspector Goodrich set out his concerns about the rising levels of crime and antisocial behaviour on the Gospel Estate. He said it was a police priority to get on top of these offences and make the Estate a place where people feel safe again. He also said he wanted the community to own the initiative – including giving it a name.

There were a wide range of views, many passionately expressed, from the public about what needs to be done to improve things on the Estate. Out of the debate a number of conclusions emerged:

* It is important that this meeting becomes the start of a process to find practical solutions – not a one off chance to let off steam. Further meetings will be therefore be arranged by the police.
* There needs to be greater co-operation between the Acocks Green police team and those teams looking after Solihull and Hall Green, as the Gospel Estate is right on the boundary between these three areas. This applies to other services too – for example, we heard from a youth project based in St Michael’s which is just ‘over the border’ in Hall Green. This project already works with many Acocks Green residents of the Gospel Estate – for which it receives support from Acocks Green’s community chest.
* The young people themselves need a forum to express their views about what needs to be done to improve things – this will be arranged, the idea floated at the meeting was that initially this would just be for the young people and at a further meeting these ideas would be discussed with the wider group of residents.
* While these initiatives are developed, the police will continue to put a higher level of resources into the Estate, to target a reduction in the level of crime and antisocial behaviour we have seen over the summer.

This is an important initiative for all residents of the Gospel Estate, I will keep followers of this blog updated as it develops.