Police 'talk shop' plans under fire

SEAHAVEN people will have fewer opportunities to quiz police on law and order issues if new plans being drawn up are implemented

Currently, the Police Community Consultative Group (PCCG) for Seahaven and Lewes meets four times a year with local police officers to discuss crime in Seaford, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Telscombe Cliffs and Lewes.

But now, as part of a Best Value review, Sussex Police Authority chairman David Rogers wants to axe 50 per cent of meetings and reduce the number of PCCGs so each covers a larger area.

This has sparked alarm that local issues could be ignored as groups become larger and less representative of specific towns.

Cllr Bob Gower, who has represented Seaford Town Council at PCCG meetings, said: 'If these meetings are likely to be spasmodic or only twice a year the opportunity to raise points in public is decreased.

'I feel it is a retrograde step. I would like to see them preserved.'

When the proposals were discussed in Wealden, PCCG members were concerned about the emphasis on political correctness.

Mr Rogers report states: 'Many groups, including young people, black and ethnic minorities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, are either apathetic in their approach to formal consultation, worried about their acceptance in the process or don't see the value of it. Current participants tend to be older people and often mostly male.'

Seaford councillor Les Whittle thought it was wrong to specifically pinpoint individual groups at the expense of others.

'It seems the emphasis on race and creed etc is wrong entirely. All people should be treated the same.'

Other changes would mean that instead of an elected independent chairman the police authority would chair all meetings.

Cllr Whittle said: 'I feel that the police authority should not have a monopoly on this. The person who is going to chair this should be judged on his or her merits and members should choose. This is unfair and quite wrong.'

Mr Rogers concludes his report by stating: ' no change is not an option. Sussex Police Authority, in common with all others, is operating in a changing environment and is needing to keep all of its functions under review.'

Readers who would like to express their opinion on the proposals should write to David Rogers at the Sussex Police Authority, St Andrew's Lane, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1UE, by September 16.