IT'S A FAIR COP!

I'd better agree to go quietly; they have got me bang to rights; chummy is ready to cough the lot and write a full confession, M'Lud!
For the brand new move to let members of the public speak, in confidence, to Brigg police officers, prior to our local public meeting on crime matters, proved to be a big success...from the force's point of view.
Eight members of the public turned up to voice concerns, in confidence, to police officers. That might not seem a lot, but actually it's an impressive and encouraging total by local standards.
Ahead of last night's meeting of the Brigg Police Authority Neighbourhood Panel in the Angel Suite, Brigg, this column voiced fears about introducing a behind-closed-doors session during what had always been a purely public airing of policing issues.
Our views have been made known to Insp Brett Rutty, head of policing in the Brigg area, and to Coun Tom Glossop, the panel chairman.
The police stress some people are wary of discussing issues - sometimes sensitive ones - in public. Others do not feel confident speaking before an audience in a public meeting.
Of the eight people who chatted privately to the police last night, we gather one of them decided to stay on and raise his issue in the public part of the forum.
I have to say 'gather' because obviously those of us who came for the public part of the agenda were unaware what had gone on confidentially before we arrived.
Insp Rutty and the gentleman of the press both agree, with the Neighbourhood Panel meeting only four times a year, it will take a good 12 months before any real trend emerges on the success, or otherwise, of these police surgery sessions.