Merseyside: Networking
Background
Norma Kielty-Crummey, Principal Officer - Citizen Focus, has been delivering two presentations - one on the Merseyside Police Authority, and one on the community engagement project - to a range of audiences in Merseyside. She has cultivated very positive relationships with crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) in the area on the back of this activity. Her initial experience with the Multi Agency Group appeared to be less positive, but after the meeting a number of agencies have made contact.
Action
The most promising development was initiated by the fire service, which has identified two opportunities for collaborative working. The service is seeking Norma's input on how they might make better use of their six bi-lingual fire officers, who are currently an untapped resource. The fire service also have a number of officers who are installing fire safety devices in the homes of elderly residents, and suggested that Merseyside Police Authority might be able to take advantage of that route to contact 'hard-to-reach' groups.
Norma is also looking beyond the force boundaries for innovative practice. She has, for example, visited Manchester Police Authority in order to learn about their community engagement work. Norma intends to build on some of their ideas - for example, putting together a toolbox for use in communities, with all the supplies needed for a community event, and using the 'washing line' as an engagement tool. (The washing line defines a space for participants to express their views and feelings. At one end of the line is a sad face, at the other sits a happy face. Participants are invited to peg comments, images and other materials on the line.) She has also been invited to join Manchester Police Authority on one of its 'roadshows', where staff 'set up shop' in health centres/ community centres/ supermarkets etc in different localities to inform the public about the Authority and learn about the public's priorities for policing.
Further information
Please contact Norma: Norma.Kielty-Crummey@knowsley.gov.uk
