Top police bosses meet Wisbech public

SHOPPERS in Wisbech town centre got to chat to Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Graham Bright and Temporary Chief Constable Alec Wood at the Commissioner’s latest ‘street surgery’.

It was the pair’s first joint public engagement event since Sir Graham identified Alec as his proposed candidate for Chief Constable last Thursday. This followed a three-week recruitment campaign and robust assessment and interview process which was led by Sir Graham and supported by the College of Policing.

Sir Graham is now looking forward to the meeting of the county’s Police and Crime Panel. It is their role to hold a ‘confirmation hearing’ and review Alec’s proposed appointment.

New Outreach Worker for Peterborough and Fenland Emily Gutteridge also joined the surgery and got a real flavour of what police and community safety issues local people are interested in.

She heard how parking, street drinking and being able to get hold of the police when they need them were important issues to local people.  Issues which are already on both the Commissioner’s and local area commander, Chief Inspector Mike Hills’ agenda.

“We were all given a warm welcome,” said Sir Graham after the surgery. “These surgeries are such a good opportunity for me to meet the people who live and work in the area and listen to their views on a one-to-one basis. I was really encouraged by the praise many people had for their local officers who they feel are doing a good job.”

He added: “We had a real presence in the Market Place and it was great to have the Temporary Chief Constable, Alec Wood with me.”

The event was one of a series being held in different towns and cities across the region as part of the Commissioner’s engagement work.

Ends