William Hague Visits Vange

Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock and William Hague MP, senior member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet, yesterday visited the South Anglia Housing and Essex Police Neighbourhood Office in Pitseaville Grove.

Both William and Stephen heard first hand how the partnership between the Housing Association and the Police was working and the benefits it has brought for the local community.

They toured the offices, chatted with staff about the new arrangements, met with local Police Officers and also heard about the recent successes with operation Leopard which saw Police target youths and known offenders responsible for anti-social behaviour. Those identified were warned that their actions would not be tolerated.


The results were spectacular! Crime across the whole area fell to almost nothing and whilst there has been a small increase since the operation finished, now that funding has been secured the operation can continue for at least another year.

William Hague was impressed with the results and said that he would certainly be talking to his shadow cabinet colleagues about the successes here in Basildon and would encourage David Davis, Shadow Home Secretary, to look closely at the Partnership, the operation and its results.

Stephen Metcalfe said: “I have been immensely impressed by the success of Operation Leopard. As is often the case, it is simplest ideas that are the best, such as the idea of coming out of the police station, targeting persistent offenders and photographing them. Their activities seem to have paid real dividends and have made a real difference to the lives of the 2,500 local residents who have been affected by the actions of a small minority.”

Stephen added that there are a number of other Police Forces looking at the results in Basildon and wanting to try similar operations in their own areas. He said he would like to see this kind of Policing adopted not only across the whole of Basildon and Thurrock, but also seen as best practice across the whole country.


Photos:
Top: William Hague, Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Centre: Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock talking to Police Sgt Gavin Brook.
Bottom: Stephen Metcalfe, William Hague and Vange Local Councillor Luke Mackenzie.