Stretching the thin blue line

Gazette reporter MICHAEL CASEY recently spent time with the borough's top cop to find out first hand what's happening as the thin blue line' do battle with a rising tide of crime, paperwork and criticism.

THE man at the helm of Thurrock's police is about to complete his first year in the job

It's a year during which he's seen a lot happen.

Much of it's bad. That's the nature of the job.

But, says the father-of-four who has more than 27 years service with Essex Police, there's plenty of good stuff too.

Chief Inspector Alan Cotgrove said: "I joined the job on the 4th of February 1980 Since then I have always relished a challenge.

"When I was asked to take on Thurrock some may have seen it as a poisoned chalice but I saw it as a golden opportunity."

Alan's record shows he has never been frightened of taking on responsibility. Two weeks ago, Alan was part of the emergency service command team that took control of the Coryton blaze.

He said: "I think this was a classic example of how well the services work together in Thurrock."

Alan is also a hostage negotiator and was fundamental in the safe conclusion to the siege in Chadwell St Mary back in April.

His job also dictates an empathetic, diplomatic role. The previous day, Alan had been in conference with the President of the Sikh Temple, Mr Baldeev Gill over the funeral arrangements for the death of Little Thurrock six-year-old Akshay Patwal.

Mr Gill said: "Mr Cotgrove has visited our temple many times. It was good for the family and the Sikh community to see a familiar face at this time of grief."

A full detail of 12 officers ensured the funeral cortege wound its way through the busy rush hour traffic.

But many in the borough want to know exactly what Mr Cotgrove has done to fight crime in the borough.

He said: "If we are talking hard evidence then I am pleased to announce that from October 2005 to 2006 there were 8,804 crimes committed in the borough. That figure has been reduced to 8,310.

"I would also like to add that our detection rate has risen from 22 per cent to 29 per cent."

The argument regarding judging success by statistics is a long and involved one and even police officers in Essex through various website forums say they don't believe the hype.

Their claims of petty crimes being focussed on to drive up detection rates, instructions not to arrest for public order on weekends and a vast exodus of officers leaving Essex police are countered by Alan.

He said: "I have a team of professional officers who are dedicated to making Thurrock a safer place for its residents.

"No agenda, no massaging figures just good old fashioned policing."

Alan says he proves the point by putting more officers back on the street.

The Neighbourhood Specialist Officer policy has seen regular officers back out on patrol walking the beat.

The policy already has its fans.

A spokesman for Grays School in Hathaway Road said: "PC Kingsley Edore came to the school and introduced himself as our NSO. He's been in several times and pupils and staff appreciate his presence."

I asked Mr Cotgrove if it was strange that the fundamental principle that Robert Peel had in 1829 was now seen as a revolutionary idea.

He said: "There are so many different demands made of a police force in the 21st century. What I am trying to do is to create a clear, well layered structure."

The structure also involves the PCSOs who despite nationwide controversy as to their efficacy, have won praise from all quarters in Thurrock - especially Debbie Lister, Warren Venables and Phil Long who traced a missing woman after a five hour night search along the East Tilbury shoreline.

But what does a day for a District Commander involve?

The day begins with a series of conference calls. The first with HQ, the second with South West Division and a third with his three Inspectors: Rachel Wood of Tilbury, Nick Morris at South Ockendon and John French at Grays as they review the previous 24 hours.

Alan said: "It's a detailed analysis. At each meeting we look at targets we have set, what we have achieved and what we have to do."

There is a continual reference to detections, to quality assurance and giving value for money.

A typical day in Thurrock involves over 200 calls to the police.

Of these 40 will be crime related.

Alan said: "I think you look around the borough in the last year and where there has been crime reported, we have acted swiftly and brought a problem solving approach."

"Anti-social behaviour in Chafford Hundred, petrol bombing in Caspian Way, racial incidents in Tilbury, neighbourhood disputes in Chadwell. Specific operations such as Operation Blade, Sprint and Effective show a strategic approach to solving crime."

But where one problem is solved another raises its head.

In the last two weeks, youths in South Ockendon have been throwing bricks at buses and large gangs intimidating residents in Corringham.

Mr Cotgrove said: "We have had officers working with Ensign buses and more patrolling on them. We have increased patrols in the Corringham area."

But with one arrest sometimes tying up an officer for anything between two and seven hours, Mr Cotgrove is looking for assistance from all the other agencies.

Alan said: "I want to see a far more joined up approach so that people have the confidence and knowledge to call the relevant agency. My officers attend 160 jobs per day which could be better handled by other agencies.

"If we could have a drop down menu of agencies that could be brought in, then that could greatly enhance the quality of service residents receive and people wouldn't be left waiting.

Alan would like to see a combined data base for the borough. This was one of the topics in a meeting with Mark Petchett, a consultant working with Thurrock agencies.

Controversially, Alan would like to see more resource and information sharing with the Primary Care Trusts. The government agree and are set to initiate legislation that may force the PCTs to do so.

Mr Petchett was impressed.

He said: "Mr Cotgrove has a clear and impressive vision for Thurrock. Even in a meeting such as this, every point was discussed and I am confident will be actioned."

Another figure to be impressed is Thurrock Council Cabinet member for Communities, Ben Maney.

He said: "I have found Alan to be an amenable, approachable man who has played a key role in fostering closer relations between Police and Council in the battle against crime and anti-social behaviour.

"The recent agreement to form a partnership between the Borough's PCSO's and the Council's Environmental Enforcement Team is evidence of his commitment.

"I very much look forward to a continued close working relationship with Alan as we attempt to drive down crime and improve safety for all the residents of Thurrock."

Race crime has also been an increasing issue in the borough and a spokesperson for anti-racism organisation, TRUST said: "We have been very pleased with the improvements that have been made.

"The introduction of a Hate Crime Officer working closely with our Equality Officer and the good work done in Tilbury has been greatly encouraging.

Chairman of borough Labour Group, councillor Carl Morris, said: "I have been impressed with the innovative approach that Ch Insp Cotgrove has delivered in his first year. This augurs well for the future of policing in the borough."

The majority of people have applauded the work Mr Cotgrove has done in his first year in charge.

Like any effective manager every employee clearly knows what is expected of them. The concern is that when he goes, the good work goes with him.

The thin blue line is indisputably stretched. It is clear that they are severely constrained by budgeting from central government and by the reams of paperwork which may well guarantee civil liberties of accused are protected but has left the public exposed to crime, whether real or imagined.

Low crime rates in the fifties following two world wars gave a false picture of a rosy Britain.

With many parents abdicating responsibility and many teenagers living a life of mind-numbing self-absorption, indulgence or loathing topped off with a 2lst century that has seen a diversification in crime from identity theft, child pornography to terrorism on a global scale, some might say that dissatisfaction in the police may have to do with an inherent blame culture rather than based on facts.

As Mr Cotgrove's troops battle these themes, it may be wise to remember that over 65 per cent of public order calls they get are alcohol related.

In the week that the Queen celebrates her Diamond Wedding it is perhaps relevant that if you walked into a shop in Grays and bought a bottle of whisky in 1947 it would have cost you the equivalent of £50. Today, it is £10.

What do you think of policing in Thurrock?

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