RESIDENTS of Wisbech and surrounding villages will be given the chance to shape the future of policing in their area by sitting on a new neighbourhood panel. The meeting, the second for central division, will be held at the Queen Mary Centre, in Wisbech,

RESIDENTS of Wisbech and surrounding villages will be given the chance to shape the future of policing in their area by sitting on a new neighbourhood panel.

The meeting, the second for central division, will be held at the Queen Mary Centre, in Wisbech, on Tuesday September 26, at 7.30pm and will be attended by Wisbech Sector Inspector Malcolm Graham, members of the neighbourhood policing team and partner agencies.

It is open to residents of Wisbech - excluding the Waterlees and Clarkson areas who will have a separate meeting, Elm, Friday Bridge, Coldham, Guyhirn, Rings End, Thorney Toll, Leverington, Murrow, Parson Drove, Wisbech St Mary, Tyd St Giles, Gorefield, Christchurch and Newton.

During the meeting residents will appoint members of the panel and discuss the main issues facing them in their area and where they would like to see police prioritising their resources.

Inspector Malcolm Graham said: "The panel meetings are about actively involving the community in the policing of their areas.

"Everyone who lives in and visits Wisbech and the surrounding villages has the right to do so without fear of becoming a victim of crime.

"By including the public in discussions about future policing and focusing on the areas important to them we hope to create safer neighbourhoods and raise confidence and satisfaction in policing."

Following on from the initial meeting the neighbourhood panels will meet quarterly, when officers will provide feedback on their work within the community and look at the local priorities for the next month.

Inspector Graham added: "The panels are part of ongoing work in Wisbech to ensure we are constantly communicating with the public and endeavouring to tackle the areas important to them.

"They follow on from the introduction of the E-cops scheme which means residents can keep up to date with the latest crime related information for their area and ongoing work with the neighbourhood policing teams."

The panel meeting will include a presentation about neighbourhood policing and discussions about how the panel will operate.