Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 29th March 2023) below:
Policing
I have been engaging with the Police, Torbay Council and our local Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, about ongoing issues in Torquay Town Centre raised by traders and residents. The focus being problems with repeat offenders, plus problems like shoplifting, drug taking and general anti-social behaviour.
Increasing Police resources due to local and national uplift programmes, along with Government funding via the safer streets programme, gives an opportunity for focussed work on tackling these issues. Identifying the work which could be done and priorities for action was part of the foot patrol I undertook with the Torquay Neighbourhood Policing Team recently.
The result is Op Loki, a month of increased police activity which commenced last week. The intention is for a pro-active policing response targeting key issues, such as Anti-Social Behaviour, Drug and Alcohol use, shoplifting and violence within specific areas, such as, Castle Circus, Fleet Street, Union Street, Melville Street, Victoria Parade and some surrounding areas to deal with any displacement effect of increased policing in the Town Centre.
The operation will involve the use of local and wider force resources, led by Torquay Neighbourhood Team, to provide high visibility policing presence to tackle the key issues, whilst also reporting on what they have achieved via social media. This has included them conducting Police Surgeries in Castle Circus and on The Strand, deliberately placed in locations where problems have been occurring.
Alongside Police presence other work to deal with long standing issues has been taking place, such as improvements to planters in Castle Circus to both improve the visual appearance and to deal with issues relating to street drinking.
Nitrous Oxide
There is nothing amusing about the abuse of Nitrous Oxide, despite it commonly being known as “laughing gas”.
Whilst there are legitimate uses for it, the sight of small silver cylinders littering streets, parks and other public places points to a growing trend of abusing it despite longer term health risks. This trend also contributing to anti-social behaviour, especially with larger cannisters of it being available as well.
The Government is therefore right to look at changing the law to treat this like other psychoactive substances, alongside the recent news of additional funding for treatment of addictions.
Seafarer’s Wages
Thousands of seafarers regularly entering UK waters should enjoy better pay protections after a new law come into force last week.
The new law seeks to protect those working on vessels operating an international service from being paid less than the National Minimum Wage. It follows nearly 800 staff being sacked without notice or consultation by a cross channel ferry operator last year, who then sought to avoid paying the National Minimum Wage.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Saturday 1st April 11am till 1pm at The Acorn Centre, Lummaton Cross, Torquay TQ2 8ET and Saturday 15th April 11am till 1pm at Paignton Library, Great Western Rd, TQ4 5AG.
For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989, surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with. There are also drop-in sessions from 10am till 1pm, Monday to Friday at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD where a member of my team is available to assist residents with urgent queries.
