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Letters to the Editor
 
Top cop should get real on crime figures

• Chief Superintendent Mark Heath says that crime in Camden has gone down in the last four years by 14 per cent (‘Secret’ plan to cut cops, March 23).
This sounds encouraging, except that in our area it is near impossible to report a crime. We at Neighbourhood Watch (NW) were given a telephone crime reporting number, but found that those at the other end were not always willing to take the details.
As a matter policy, we will offer to accompany a nervous victim who is a member of our NW to the Kentish Town Station, but we are usually made to wait hours before the victim, often in a state of distress, is interviewed.
On one occasion, I accompanied a local disabled man. It was in the evening and the station was not busy. However, the person at the desk insisted on typing pages of material before attending to the victim.
It took some four hours before he was interviewed. By then, both our evenings had been spoiled. At that time at least, we had a warm place to wait indoors.
Lately, the station has been under refurbishment and a make shift office has been improvised. This has meant victims having to wait their turns outdoors in front of a small temporary hut, sometimes in freezing cold weather, to make their statements.
To make matters worse, victims often encounter criminals (some known to them) waiting to sign the bail book. These situations are not conducive to victims reporting crime.
May I make a suggestion that people such as myself who could easily take statements be allowed to assist if someone belonging to their NW shows up at their door.
Alternatively, the Police Community Support Officers who demonstrate a real aptitude for policing should be trained and authorised to take statements. This way, they could visit victims at home, if the station is not manned adequately or the ‘waiting outdoors’ policy is in effect.
Crime statistics can only be useful if they are based on reality. Current difficulties in reporting crime distorts the reality.
Celine La Freniere
Talacre Road
NW5


Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.
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