Kindly caretakers cannot confront tower block yobs (From Echo)

Kindly caretakers cannot confront tower block yobs

12:03pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Letters

Reading the article on caretaker power and the continuing problems with drug users and antisocial behaviour in flats in Southend (Jan 25), I was amazed at the comments of ex-Chief Supt Mick Thwaites.

He suggested caretakers should receive police accreditation and be encouraged to confront drug users and antisocial behaviour and issue fixed penalty tickets.

I am a retired police officer with 30 years’ service and seven years as an antisocial behaviour coordinator, dealing with many forms of crime and disorder There did not appear to be any comments from the caretakers the article referred to, or other accredited personnel, such as security staff.

I found these comments alarming. Security staff receive specialist training to deal with confrontational people. Most are of a statue and mental resolve to perform their role.

The police are responsible by statute for crime and disorder in our community, and are given personal protection equipment, have a network of immediate support and the facilities to check details of troublemakers.

Any suggestion that a kindly family man who is employed to care for the property should be encouraged to confront violent and unstable individuals is dangerous and deeply worrying.

There seems to be a continuous dialogue of passing the police role and responsibility on to the community.

There has been the deregulation of licensing offences to the local authority, the closing of police stations and removal of front line officers.

In view of Mr Thwaites’ previous position, I am surprised at his comments.

There needs to be a major dialogue on the police’s role and the withdrawal of policing in our communities.

Jack Lawmon
Eastwood Road
Rayleigh