Hucknall 'police surgery' deemed a huge success

A special police 'surgery' that took place in Hucknall on Friday has been declared a success.

Hucknall Councillor John Wilmott thanked local police officers for joining him for the special public engagement event in Hucknall Town Centre.

The event was organised as a result of the Hucknall Ashfield Independent councillors' call for a better and more visible police presence and was held on Friday to coincide with 'Market Day' in the town centre.

Issues raised included the rise in anti-social behaviour, the frustration with a perceived lack of officers in large parts of Hucknall, off-road bikes in parks and open spaces, and the lack of a public-facing police station in Hucknall.

The event was the second time officers have been in Hucknall on a visible engagement event. Last month, Inspector Mark Dickson joined councillors and Hucknall Nub News on a tour of crime hotspots in the town. This has led to increased police presence in Hucknall town centre, local parks, and estates such as the Vaughan Estate and Papplewick Green.

Councillor Wilmott said: "This was a very successful event and I'd like to thank officers for listening to our call for more visible policing. It was a nice day for it and the police have agreed to make this a regular event. It is critical that the police are seen out and about in our town. Residents who met them were reassured by their presence.

"The police work regularly with Ashfield District Council's 'Community Protection Team' to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour. A great example is them working together to increase patrols to deal with vehicle crime in the centre of Hucknall."

Councillor Wilmott and the Ashfield Independent team have asked for this to happen at least monthly – accompanied by 'drop-in police surgeries' at Hucknall Library. After listening to recommendations from Hucknall residents – it has been suggested that these happen on a Saturday morning.

Councillor Wilmott added: "Your Ashfield Independent team will continue to push for any opportunity to increase police presence in Hucknall. This is just the type of thing that helps inspire confidence in frontline policing in our town. This will be a regular project and I will reveal details of the next event when it is agreed with agencies."

Talks are ongoing with Inspire, who run Nottinghamshire's Libraries about Hucknall Library hosting one-to-one, confidential police surgeries in the absence of a police station.