North Yorkshire's Deputy Mayor has praised the impact of visible community policing after receiving positive feedback from businesses in Whitby and Filey.
North Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor has emphasised the crucial role that visible neighbourhood patrols play in supporting local communities, following recent engagements on the Yorkshire Coast.
Jo Coles, who serves as the region's Deputy Mayor, has been evaluating the impact of community law enforcement strategies by speaking directly with those who live and work in coastal towns.
Recent visits to Whitby and Filey, provided an opportunity for the Deputy Mayor to gather first-hand accounts from local commercial operators regarding the current level of police presence on the streets.
According to Ms Coles, the response from the local business sector has been highly encouraging, with shopkeepers and retailers expressing satisfaction with the noticeable deployment of officers in the area.
The presence of uniformed personnel is widely considered to be a significant reassurance to retail businesses, which are vital to the local coastal economy.
While celebrating the positive reception in Whitby, the Deputy Mayor was also realistic about the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies.
She acknowledged that there will always be a desire for further improvements and increased patrols, but stressed that current strategies align with broader national objectives.
There is currently a firm governmental pledge to channel investments directly into neighbourhood policing models, a strategy that is viewed as fundamental to restoring and maintaining the public's trust in law enforcement institutions.
Ms Coles explained that she is actively monitoring the effectiveness of these strategies during her community visits, using the feedback to assess how well the current approach is working on the ground.
Addressing the inevitable issue of resources, the Deputy Mayor highlighted the delicate balancing act required to manage public expectations against financial realities.
She noted that while communities universally desire a heavy police presence, the sheer cost of deploying an unlimited number of officers is simply not viable.
Instead, the focus remains on optimising the available resources to ensure that the correct mix of policing tactics is deployed, providing adequate visibility without overstretching the budget.
North Yorkshire's Deputy Mayor, Jo Coles, said:
"I was in Whitby and Filey- very positive feedback from retailers and businesses around the visibility of forces. I mean, there's always more that you can do, but there is a clear government commitment to investing in neighbourhood policing because it is key to building public confidence in the police. So it is something that I am actively testing in the community when I'm out and about. You can never have too many, but equally we can't afford to have as many as people would want, so it's about getting the balance right in terms of that visibility and making sure that blend of policing is appropriate."
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