A ZERO tolerance stance is being taken for a crime showdown in Penistone.
People who create problems at a public meeting with the county’s police supremo will be thrown out.
That is the pledge from the Penistone crime campaigner who will chair the session later this month.
Jeanette Edwards says she won’t tolerate bad behaviour at the meeting with the police and crime commissioner, Dr Alan Billings.
“If things start to get out of hand I will stop it,” she said.
Mrs Edwards’ tough stance follows a controversial decision by police to cancel a scheduled Police and Community Together session in Penistone for April.
Police said the monthly meetings were not meeting the purpose they were designed for and expressed anger that officers had been subject to personal attacks from angry residents. The move sparked outrage in the community, but it was made clear the meeting with Dr Billings would go ahead.
Mrs Edwards said posters advertising the meeting have been put up around the town.
The PCC’s office has asked for a police officer to attend to answer any relevant questions. “But it is being made known that this is not a police meeting,” said Mrs Edwards, who is chairman of Penistone West crime and safety group.
“This is a meeting between residents and the PCC which was asked for by a member of the public in February.”
However, PACT meetings will be discussed. “We need them to go back to how they used to be,” she said.
“It is very frustrating. I can see why people get angry. We used to have a crime list and got to know what had been happening.
“The whole thing has got out of hand. We have seen so many different officers in the area, there is no continuity. At the last meeting, when there was so much anger, the sergeant should have known what crimes had been taking place. Police need to get back to basics as well.”
Mrs Edwards says everyone needs to stay calm and listen to what Dr Billings has to say.
“This needs to be a proper meeting and we won’t tolerate bad behaviour. People will only have so long to talk so no-one will be allowed to go on and on.”
The meeting is at Penistone Grammar School on May 16 at 6.30pm. Mrs Edwards aims for it to finish by about 8.30pm.
