News - NSL

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police in Rochdale are the latest to sign up to NSL's pioneering co-operation agreement aimed at reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

The scheme, called Partnership Plus, was officially launched when representatives from the three organisations signed a new agreement to work together this week.
The agreement details how CEOs will assist police with their operations, including:

• Receiving training by police to make them more skilled at reporting street crime swiftly and effectively.
• Assisting police with special operations such as clampdowns on Blue Badge fraud, or vulnerable vehicle schemes, where motorists are reminded not to leave valuables on display when they leave their cars.
• Receiving briefings on particular incidents where police are looking for more information - for instance, stolen vehicles.

The agreement also means police commit to increased support for CEOs, to help ensure they feel they can do their jobs on street safely. This means;

• Police will commit to ensuring that all assaults or abuse of CEOs are investigated promptly and where appropriate the offenders prosecuted.
• Police will assist with conflict resolution training to ensure CEOs are increasingly well equipped to deal with difficult situations on street.

Tim Cowen, of NSL said: “We already have terrific support from the police across the whole force area - but this agreement specifies several useful ways we can help each other.

“It will help us to further reduce the level of assaults and abuse our colleagues receive while carrying out their duties - and we hope that we will be able to give something back to the police by providing more formal support in terms of observing and recording street crime and disorder.

“We hope the police in Rochdale will come to see the CEOs as an extra set of eyes and ears who are able and willing to help them. We are delighted our clients in Rochdale have supported us in this initiative.”

Inspector Lin Houldershaw from GMP's Rochdale North Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This is an example of true partnership work, where police, CEO's and the public will receive a better level of service due to this agreement that has been supported by all parties involved.”

Kevin Mayor, Parking Services Manager said: “We are delighted and committed to working in partnership to prevent crime and anti - social behaviour within the Borough of Rochdale. The three partners will learn from each other and share best practices which should be mutually beneficial and improve all the services we deliver to the public. “

For further details contact Tim Cowen at NSL on: 020 8991 7709