HOW BRIGG STREETS WILL BE POLICED IN THE FUTURE

Matthew Grove, the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner,  prior to the start of Brigg Town Council's monthly meeting with Town Mayor Coun Edward Arnott and Chief Insp Jenny Bristow, who oversees policing of communities. PICTURE TAKEN IN THE ANGEL SUITE BY KEN HARRISON.

It was a great shame the debate about policing in Brigg did not draw a bigger attendance from members of the general public at the Angel Suite, despite being well publicised ahead of the monthly meeting of the Town Council.

It proved to a very lively discussion with Coun Mike Campion in the red corner and Matthew Grove in the blue corner, the latter being Humberside's elected Police and Crime Commissioner. 

The Commissioner attended in person to answer suggestions that Brigg Police Station, in Barnard Avenue, is to close.
He said the station was definitely NOT closing. It was becoming a centre for officers protecting vulnerable people  but would be full of police who could be sent to any incident in Brigg, as required.
Keen local cricket supporter Coun Campion opened the batting  on behalf of people opposed to changes at the station and its officer base. Coun Mike pointed out that many concerned members of the public had signed a petition on the issue. Whether there was going to be two or one PCSO assigned to Brigg made no real difference if they were based in Barton, 20/25 minutes away. There were also concerns about the future of the front office at the police station. Coun Campion stressed  the public wanted  to see officers based at Brigg Police Station in the future. They did not want an excellent building being used as an office!
The Commissioner pledged more officers would be on the beat when people needed them most. Changes were being made across Humberside Police to ensure extra officers on duty  in the evenings, when calls for service were at their greatest. There would also be more officers on duty at weekends and during the summer holiday period. "From April 15 you will see," he concluded. (That is when the new policing arrangements  become fully operational).
Coun Jackie Brock suggested a review of Brigg policing by the Town Council in a year's time.
The Commissioner added: "If not before."

Read more on how Brigg policing is going to be from April