The Thinning Blue Line
November 4th, 2007Another hectic week in Swindon, with a House Meeting in Old Walcot on Wednesday, a visit to Toothill Farm Community Centre on Saturday and campaigning in Parks and West Swindon taking up a lot of my time. I have now finished the process of clearing out all my possessions from 30 Park Place, with a little help from my friends. My shed is groaning with files and reference documents that have been accumulated over nearly eight and a half years. I have had a happy and successful time there, but now feel that it is time to move on to a new set that will specialise entirely in criminal work. My new colleagues are all about the same age as me, with similar concerns and a similar outlook. To those who say it cannot succeed: we will do our best to prove you wrong.
Time and time again, the issue that comes up with local residents is the slowness or lack of interest shown by the Police in dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour. Toothill Farm Community Centre, in Bodiam Drive, has been the target of sustained vandalism and burglary for far too long. Mavis and Roy are the lead volunteers providing a vital youth service based in the attractive old farmhouse. It is set in large grounds, providing a vital green space for youngsters. Mavis, a former Magistrate, told me that on several occasions recently when she has had cause to contact the police because of criminal behaviour by youths in the area, their response has, to put it mildly, been weak.
The question has to be asked: just what on earth is going on? Police resources are being spread very thinly indeed, and the current Government’s obsession with targets is having the worrying effect of distracting the Police from dealing directly with crime. We deserve better than this.
It was very good to see community service work being carried out in and around the Farm by a group of people who had been convicted and sentenced in the Crown Court. The lawns were looking extremely tidy and a recently-damaged fence had been repaired very well indeed. When Community Service projects are run in this way, people can see that punishment is being administered effectively with a net benefit to local people.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
It was a very enjoyable visit to the Farm; it’s quite remarkable just how many very dedicated volunteers we have within the childern and youth sectors in Swindon.