The Chairman welcomed approximately 60 people to the meeting and presented apologies from Paul Barker, Carol Clifford, George Egglestone, Joe da Gama, Vernon Hardy, David Higgs, Hugh Jenkins, Howard Kemsley and Eric Watts.

The Minutes of the meeting held on January 31st 2007 were accepted nem con.

There were no matters arising from these Minutes.

The Chairman felt that this had been a good year despite the dissolution of some Watches. The e-mail system had been launched this year, working in both directions. The targeting of blocks of flats had been pleasingly effective. The system of PCSOs had been in force for a year now and seemed to be working. Regrettably there was still no newsletter from the police, one would be much appreciated by the Watches. The Chairman was grateful for all the help that he had received and thanked the Watches, the PCSOs, Simon Roberts and the Executive Committee. Pressure of work obliged him now to step down from the Chairmanship but he would continue to serve on the committee for the foreseeable future.

Expenditure in 2007 amounted to £312.84 and the bank balance stands now at £270.34. The organisation is far from wealthy but should be able to survive the current year. Greater financial help from the City Council would be required, however, to ensure survival thereafter. The Honorary Treasurer wondered whether social events might improve our finances.

No nomination was forthcoming to replace Peter Dixon as Chairman. The other Officers – Honorary Secretary Gareth Perry and Honorary Treasurer Peter Waight – and the members of the Committee were re-elected nem con. There were no other nominations.

Crimestoppers is a charitable organisation, fiercely independent of the police. It has been in existence nationally for 20 years and the Hants & Isle of Wight branch was formed in 2005. The call centre operates all day and all night every day of the year and callers remain entirely anonymous. The “Mostwanted” website was launched in November 2005 and nationally is visited more than 5 million times a month. It is now international and more than 8 million hits occurred at the height of the Madeleine McCann case. Hampshire Constabulary uses it more than any other force in the UK. In the last year there have been 1476 calls to Crimestoppers in our area, creating 186 arrests. 558 calls concerned drug dealing, many from dealers shopping each other. 201 calls were about vehicle crime with a particular emphasis on drunk drivers. 155 calls related to burglary and theft, with 33 for handling stolen goods. 83 calls were about assault and 55 related to criminal damage. 5 dealt with murder. The Isle of Wight is the most successful section of the six command units within our area. Nationally Crimestoppers is responsible for an average of 17 arrests a day and solves 10% of London’s murders.

Hants & Isle of Wight Crimestoppers has an income of just over £37,000 a year made up solely of charitable donations from local councils, from business, from Hampshire Police Authority, from charitable organisations, corporate memberships etc. The local contacts are:- PC 741 Simon Wright, Force Crimestoppers Co-ordinator & Most Wanted Manager, 02380.450864, simon.wright@hampshire.pnn.police.uk and Mr Simon Theobalds, Crimestoppers Project Co-ordinator for Hampshire & Isle of Wight, 01962.713599, simon.theobalds@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Successor to John Campbell who was Chief Guest at last year’s AGM. David Peacock, having spent 23 years in the Metropolitan Police, was transferred two years ago to Hampshire Constabulary to be in charge of investigating police corruption and eight weeks ago was appointed Head of Portsmouth Police. The Chief Superintendent looked forward to a Question & Answer session but prior to that made the following points:- 2007/8 was the quietest New Year’s Eve in Portsmouth for five years, thanks principally to the very strong line taken by the police concerning alcohol, vehicle crime in Portsmouth is down by 22%, overall crime down by 10%, between January ’06 and December ’07 there were 2,376 fewer victims of crime than in the previous equivalent period, 43% of violent crimes now find themselves charged. PCSOs and local Safer Neighbourhood policy is making a substantial difference, funding for PCSOs will continue, distinct terrorist targets (Spinnaker Tower etc) in Portsmouth, local road policy (20 mph) is working, local police are carrying out a tasking programme (they look at an area for two weeks, decide what tasks should be undertaken then attack it with local officers), last year there were 25,000 999 calls.

Q. What is the attitude of local yobs towards PCSOs who are known to have no power?

A. PCSOs know the yobs and their families and yob attitude has changed. PCSOs can detain and await arrest, there are now 30+ PCSOs in Portsmouth and every area has an allocation. Visibility of PCSOs is what is important. Police may arrest on suspicion, citizen’s arrest can occur only after a crime has been committed.

Q. What is the police attitude towards the withdrawal of the 101 crime reporting system?

A. No final decision has been made but the police are disappointed at Government withdrawal of funding and leaving police with egg on face. Anyone with good experience of 101 should write to local council. Policing costs go up by 8% per year so funding has to start with 8% increase to stay level.

Q. Difficulty in getting in touch with local beat officers – much discussion.

A. 9 officers patrol the whole city at night. The development of Safer Neighbourhoods under John Campbell reduced the Response Teams and this has had to be addressed. Drop Response Team resources and one cannot deal with 999 calls.

Q. Port Solent NW – 700 properties – 15 Co-ordinators – meeting once every two months – sometimes no police in attendance.

Q. Is there a no. other than 999 for contacting a trained operator?

A. No. There is a mobile no. but it contacts the European version of 999 and is therefore a control room.

Q. 20 mph limits are working – is there a programme to police this?

A. The road policing group will investigate.

Q. Can a representative from NW attend the Tasking Forum?

A. Good idea.

Q. Can we hear your good news?

A. 2 people are working on getting good news into the Portsmouth News.

Lyn Connelly presented the Chairman with bouquet/wine as an appreciation of his work, time and effort.

The meeting closed at 8.30 p.m.