Store room ‘police station’ slashes city centre crime
North Tenth Street, Central Milton Keynes.
BOBBIES in a broom cupboard have made a clean sweep of clearing crime in one of the city’s hotspots.
For neighbourhood police officers in Central Milton Keynes have opened a new community office – in a caretaker’s store room.
And ever since they moved in three weeks ago there has not been a single crime in the area.
“During the same period last year six crimes were recorded, so it appears that the new base is already having a positive impact,” said Neighbourhood Sergeant Mark Lacey.
The new office is part of flats in North Tenth Street, where residents were experiencing problems with crime and anti-social behaviour.
Police share the facility with the new Central Housing Residents’ Association, which officers helped set up in December.
Neighbourhood PC Jim Lake said: “Working with Milton Keynes Council and the housing association, we were fortunate enough to be offered a former caretaker’s store room in the heart of the flats, which we have refurbished to create a shared office.”
PC Lake was a beat officer in CMK ten years ago and returned to the area last year.
He and his colleagues now use the new office to meet residents and do paperwork, enabling them to spend more time patrolling the streets.
Neighbours are convinced the visible presence of the police has made a huge difference.
Residents’ association chairman Robert Stones said: “I’ve lived in this part of Milton Keynes for almost 35 years and it’s very close to my heart.
“Not long ago the area had problems with drug and alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour. The police were here almost every night responding to emergency calls.
“But now the sight of a police car on blue lights is very rare. It’s becoming a nice place to live again. Communal areas have been cleaned up and people are talking to each other more.”
> To contact the Central Housing Residents Association call 07435 467771 oe email Robertstones@hotmail.co.uk.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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StuH
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:44 PMJackson: Spelling not improving is see... oh the irony!
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 05:41 PM"North Tehth Street, Central Milton Keynes." The crime will of course have moved elsewhere. Speling not improving I see. And who makes up these silly cliches? "BOBBIES in a broom cupboard have made a clean sweep of clearing crime in one of the city’s hotspots" Yet another journalist from new Bradwell Secondary Modern. Sorry gernalist.
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