Labour Councillors for New Bilton this week held the first of many regular meetings designed to enable residents, community groups and other stakeholders to raise with local police officers their concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour.

The meeting was attended by nearly twenty residents, local business owners, and community and faith group representatives.

Cllr Slinger, who chaired the meeting, set out the issues that he and fellow councillors had become aware and which are common in most towns, including dangerous driving, anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and consumption, and irresponsible parking outside schools.

Police statement about their involvement in event:

Rugby Community Police Officers attended the New Bilton Councillors/Residents meeting on the 8^th March to support the drive to reduce crime and disorder within the locality. Officers in attendance were PCSO Stephen McGuire, PC Matt Birch, Sgt Jack Zielinski and Insp Sally Bunyard-Spiers. This was an opportunity to hear from the community, not only to improve engagement, but to also identify the concerns raised by the residents. This proved to be an interactive event, with individuals being given a chance to voice their opinions and hear the subsequent answers from the local team. The event was really productive with Insp Bunyard-Spiers being able to outline the future policing model within Warwickshire which is being driven through the Empower programme and due to be implemented from the 24^th April 2023.

Insp Sally Bunyard-Spiers said: “This was a great opportunity to sit with the local community and listen to their concerns. We share their passion for their local area, and this was a chance to build relationships that will help us tackle crime and disorder. I look forward to future meeting with residents and businesses where we can continue to work together to identify issues and put measures in place to address them.”

Cllr Barbara Brown said: “We New Bilton Councillors believe strongly in listening to residents and community groups about their concerns and their hopes for our ward, and working with them and the relevant authorities to solve problems constructively.”

Cllr Slinger said: “I’m very grateful to residents for braving the snow to come to this important meeting with their councillors and local police. It shows how much people care about these issues.

“I said at the meeting that everyone in our community, individuals, voluntary and faith groups and of course the authorities such as the council and the police, has a shared responsibility to help reduce crime. The event was a really good opportunity for a constructive conversation about how to do this.

“The police reiterated the importance of the public reporting matters to them and that they value forums like this. We’ve agreed that there will be further meetings, to which all residents and local organisations will be welcome, every three to six months. I’m confident that working in a spirit of partnership, we can help strengthen our community.”

The event was hosted by the Indian Centre on Edward Street.