Don’t moan about policing - call 101, says Shropshire councillor
Witnesses or victims of crime who are not calling the non emergency 101 number could be putting their town at a disadvantage when it comes to police resources, a councillor has claimed.
With numbers of reported crimes dropping, Newport councillor Peter Scott said it was important that people call in anything that they see so that police can get a true and accurate picture of the amount of issues each area faces.
He said: “I am very concerned that people are not calling in to 101.
“If one area has more calls to 101 than others, it looks like that area needs a bigger police presence, but that’s not necessarily true.
“It is very important that people know how Important it is to get all cases reported and not just moan on social media.
“I have been speaking with local inspectors who agree with me.”
Councillor Scott said it was an issue that was particularly relevant in Newport.
He said the number of crimes reported in Telford was disproportionately higher than in Newport, and that was in part because people just hadn’t called the police over issues like anti-social behaviour.
“That puts Newport at a disadvantage especially when the government says reported crime is down. What about the unreported?
“Calls to 101 are vital to Newport’s policing. We need to build up an evidence bank if we are to be considered for any more police.
“As an example, last Friday Telford had 78 101 calls. Newport had just three. Where will they send the spare staffing?
“Please do call 101 for all non emergency cases. Of course emergencies or anything life threatening is always 999.
“Please do not listen to anyone who says it’s a waste of time. It really isn’t and besides, what is the alternative?”
People are increasingly turning to social media as a means of complaining about their problems, Councillor Scott said.
But although that means they’re getting more attention from the general public, police aren’t aware of what is happening within towns like Newport.
“People have to stop using Facebook as a means to complain but then not actually doing anything about it,” Councillor Scott said.
“It’s all very well saying that something has happened or complaining that 101 is rubbish, but has anyone actually reported the crime?
“That’s the only way the police will get there, and it’s the only way that the standard is going to rise.”
