The meetings were originally intended to be a way for police
to engage with communities and communicate with them about local issues. While
some meetings – including Surry Hills – were closed to the public and minutes
not made available, others have won praise from politicians and community
groups for openness and community involvement.
The wide variation in how the meetings were run between
different commands was just one reason the review was taking place, the Central
Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Catherine
Burn, said.
“Currently the NSW Police Force is reviewing many of
its strategies to ensure that they are still relevant and effective,” Ms
Burn said.
“Some commands have very good Police Accountability
Community Teams working in their areas and these partnerships will be
maintained.”
She said a new system of Community Safety Precincts would be
set up in each command, with similar aims to Police Accountability Community
Teams, but would also focus on bringing community, agencies and others together
for a more collaborative approach to crime issues.
“It may be that the community opinion is that graffiti
is the major issues impacting in their community, so the role of the Safety
Precinct will be to work together on solving the problem,” Ms Burn said.
“Additionally, the Safety Precincts will concentrate on enhancing customer
service by police in their local communities. This will be done by listening,
by being responsive and by providing good communication and feedback”
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore
welcomed the review but also pointed to the Kings Cross model, saying it should
be the example for other commands to follow.
“Direct community participation provides a valuable
addition to the closed PACT model, where meetings are restricted to appointed
representatives from local residents, business and council, as well as the
local MP,” Cr Moore said.
Former Kings Cross police commander, Superintendent Jenny
Hayes, said the Kings Cross system was the best when it came to community
involvement and building local relationships.
“We had quarterly meetings and they were open to the
community, allowing them to give us feedback; it’s a very successful
model,” she said.
Source:
Central 2 April 2008