Meeting with Police and local groups

Improvements to Clark Spring Woods delivered by the Churwell Environmental Group

I met with the Morley Policing Team last Friday along with members of the Friends of Springfield Park and volunteers of the Churwell Action Group Environmental Team. We met to discuss with the Police a plan to reduce vandalism and criminal damage which have significantly impacted on the Park and at Clark Spring Woods in Churwell to come up with a plan to reduce it.

Both locations have suffered recently with levels of mindless vandalism and as they rely on volunteers to keep both locations in excellent shape then it is not surprising they feel disappointed when their work is undermined. The Policing Team have agreed to extra patrols and were also keen on getting local young people involved in supporting the work both Groups do. This is an excellent idea and helps young people gain ownership of an area. This in turn sends a clear message to others who might be tempted to vandalise places to stop their anti-social activity or face the wrath of their peers.

We also had a good conversation about the use of POCA (Proceeds of Crime Act) funds to support the work both groups do by improving crime prevention work. This is something to explore in the future but does mean that criminals ill gotten gains could be used to improve the quality of local public open spaces that communities value. This seems an entirely positive thing as the same criminals have often blighted the lives of the same communities.

I hope the plan works as both groups undertake excellent work and provide brilliant public open spaces to their respective communities.