Gareth, I agree with you.The banner headlines are not worth the paper they are written on, even if it is the cheapest quality! (posh paper does not make important words, methinks.)I want to understand the thinking behind the banner topic headlines, to see if I agree with them, and if they agree with what I really want addressed. I don't need a party political statement about for example, Policing - I need to know what that means here on the ground.For example – banner headline – "Violent crime is up by 30% since 1997. We will give the Met an extra 8,539 to make the local streets safer."Does somebody feel that they are in a position to brag that Violent crime is up by 30%? Would this be to make me frightened? Or would it be to blind me with statistics so that I don’t ask any more? I feel completely numb to statistics. It is a bit like the children are being brought up numb to horror and violence because of what they see in the media around them. It is a completely novel concept that I used to hide behind a pillow when the Cybermen were in a Dr Who episode, they are rarely frightened by the horror on TV.The statement says that this rise in violent crime is since 1997. I wonder, if I bothered to think about it, why 1997? Bet the bobby on the beat and their family and the people trapped in their homes at night, frightened to go out, are more concerned with the here and now, so what is happening, now?If the party line then continued in its boast that they will give the Met an extra 8,539, to make our local streets safer – I might say what does this mean?You might give the Met another 5 officers, or another 50,000, so why 8,539? What will they be used to do – I mean, will they be an investment in the fabric of our society, or will they all become traffic officers in the war against the car?What has our Police Chief (newly into his role, with bags of experience, and who is no doubt looking with his colleagues at what is going on and has a fair idea from the front line people what needs to be done) got to say about this? How many officers will he need? How many will he get? Will these be in addition to the ones leaving the force? How will he want to use them? Does he think that this is they way to fight crime, or are there other solutions which need to be knitted together to help find the solution? Is there a solution?What about the outgoing Police Chief? What would he say about his work in the Borough? How many extra trained officers with people experience, would he have liked?What WOULD the bobby on the beat say?
Sarah Felstead ● 7326d