BUDE Police held a Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting at Bude Rugby Club on Wednesday, July 8.

PACT is the process by which communities can engage with authorities within their area, identify and discuss their local concerns and have a real say in how their area is managed.

A consultation period had taken place during the previous month, where the police engaged with large numbers of the community, to gauge their concerns.

These concerns formed the basis for the meeting, which was attended by the local communities of all three areas covered. A lively discussion then took place regarding the issues concerning them.

PC Dave Monkton, the Neighbourhood Beat Manager for Bude, Stratton and Poughill gave an update on the actions taken since the previous PACT priorities identify at the last meeting, which were anti-social behaviour and boy racers, speeding vehicles and parking issues.

He explained that Bude Community CCTV Project (BCCP) had been formed within the community, and as the first project of its type in the country, was producing excellent result, providing a way of the community being involved as a whole in tackling antisocial behaviour.

Community Speed­watch, which has been on trial, in the Bude area, was also so successful that it was now also being rolled out access the whole of the Devon and Cornwall police area, and parking was being address by the council parking enforcement officers, assis­ted by Bude Police Officers.

PC Monkton then gave details of the recent work carried out by Bude Police, Partner Agencies, and the community. These showed that over the last year, crime in the town centre area had been reduced by 15 per cent and from those crimes report, 40 per cent were detected, showing that the Bude area remains one of the safest places to live in the country.

All attending the meeting then voted on the many concerns and the issues identified and the priorities to be addressed were Anti-social Behaviour surrounding the Bude late night economy on The Strand, boy racers in The Crescent Car Park, speeding vehicles in Bude and dog fouling on The Downs.

PC Monkton further explained that the issues identified were not purely policing matters, and he would be looking to work with Partner Agencies and the community itself to assist in tackling these issues and improving the quality of lives of people living, working and socialising in the Bude area.

The Devon and Cornwall Constabulary is also committed to The Policing Pledge, which explains to the community, the way that policing will be delivered. Part of this, is to aim to attend all issues identified as PACT Priorities within 60 minutes, or make an appointment to see individuals within 48 hours if that is appropriate.

The priorities identified will form the basis for the policing activities within the Bude area until such a time, as further input by the community is required again. Details of all future meetings will be publicised in advance in order that as many people as possible can be involved in this process.

Bude Police can be contacted by telephoning 08452 777444, by telephoning the Neighbour­hood Office on 01288 357502, visiting the station or by emailing [email protected]">[email protected].