plymwebed
09-06-07, 10:31 AM
Hi Everyone,
My name is Neil and I am the web editor for thisisplymouth, the website of The Herald. Obviously crime reporting makes up a huge part of what newspapers do so I have joined this forum with an interest in crime-related stories and debate and so that I can bring you the latest news and developments from Plymouth - if they are of interest.
For those who don't know the city, we are right on the Devon and Cornwall border and we make up an urban oasis between Dartmoor and the sea.
Violent crime has seen an increase in the city in recent years, although gun and knife crime are still rare. Drugs are a constant problem, although not so much from the continental ferry port and fishing ports as you might imagine. We have more trouble with criminals travelling down from places such as Liverpool and Manchester, although our Force is very hot on that and has been running a high profile crackdown for several years.
Plymouth has recently, in the last few days, had a new Chief Superintendent, so expect to see some changes in the way things are run down here.
We also have a large number of CCTV cameras, including a couple of the talking kind, and the city is the place all those new-fangled headmounted cameras police wear come from. We were one of the first Forces to pilot their use.
The city also makes extensive use of alcohol banning orders, dispersal zones and has used stop and search to break up gang fights before they begin.
We also have a big problem with alcohol fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour, which prompts endless debate and news coverage.
That said, the city isn't all that bad. Crime rates are generally low, quality of life is good and right now the weather is glorious.
I look forward to joing the debate with you here.
My name is Neil and I am the web editor for thisisplymouth, the website of The Herald. Obviously crime reporting makes up a huge part of what newspapers do so I have joined this forum with an interest in crime-related stories and debate and so that I can bring you the latest news and developments from Plymouth - if they are of interest.
For those who don't know the city, we are right on the Devon and Cornwall border and we make up an urban oasis between Dartmoor and the sea.
Violent crime has seen an increase in the city in recent years, although gun and knife crime are still rare. Drugs are a constant problem, although not so much from the continental ferry port and fishing ports as you might imagine. We have more trouble with criminals travelling down from places such as Liverpool and Manchester, although our Force is very hot on that and has been running a high profile crackdown for several years.
Plymouth has recently, in the last few days, had a new Chief Superintendent, so expect to see some changes in the way things are run down here.
We also have a large number of CCTV cameras, including a couple of the talking kind, and the city is the place all those new-fangled headmounted cameras police wear come from. We were one of the first Forces to pilot their use.
The city also makes extensive use of alcohol banning orders, dispersal zones and has used stop and search to break up gang fights before they begin.
We also have a big problem with alcohol fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour, which prompts endless debate and news coverage.
That said, the city isn't all that bad. Crime rates are generally low, quality of life is good and right now the weather is glorious.
I look forward to joing the debate with you here.