Ipswich MP Jack Abbott urges police leaders to engage with community over fears town is an ‘afterthought’
An MP has called on police leaders to increase engagement with the public over fears that Ipswich was being treated as an ‘afterthought’.
Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, has written to Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner and Rachel Kearton, Suffolk chief constable, urging them to host a ‘police connect’ meeting in the town.
He said such events were important opportunities for the public to engage with police leaders.
Mr Passmore said they would consider adding Ipswich to the list of dates.
Mr Abbott said: “It is crucial that as many voices as possible are able to provide their insights so the force can better understand the challenges facing people in their day-to-day lives, as well as reflecting on the areas of success.”
Suffolk is split into three police areas – west, south and east – with four engagement events scheduled for the coming weeks.
Mr Passmore said a meeting is held in each district once per year to allow the public to engage with himself and Ms Kearton, with an additional meeting in Stowmarket having been added this year.
Ipswich is part of the south Suffolk policing area, which has its meeting in Martlesham next month.
However, despite being the county’s largest down, there was a perception that Ipswich is sometimes treated as an afterthought, Mr Abbot said.
“With that in mind, I believe that omitting our town from these meetings would be a mistake at a time when we need to be fostering positive relationships and providing reassurance to residents,” he added.
“I would, therefore, urge the Police and Crime Commissioner and the chief constable to add an additional date in the centre of Ipswich, as has been done in the past.”
The dates for the police connect meetings are:
- September 12 – The Mix, Stowmarket
- September 19 – Haverhill Arts Centre – West Area
- October 3 – Wherry Hotel, Oulton Broad – East Area
- October 9 – Police headquarters, Martlesham – South Area
