Police keeping peace in park

Jun 5 2006 By Tony Deeley, Birmingham Mail

RANGERS and residents living near a Black Country park have praised police for their continued support in helping to regenerate it.

Officers have increased patrols in Britannia Park, Rowley Regis, and worked closely with the rangers and the park warden to help combat concerns over anti-social behaviour.

Sandwell Council is shortly to build a multi-games area in the park and has plans to upgrade the existing skate park.

Rowley Regis-based Insp Simon Richards, of West Midlands Police, said: "The feedback we have received from our partners in the council and more importantly, from the public, is very encouraging.

"Britannia Park is enjoying substantial investment and it is important we ensure that everyone in Blackheath can enjoy it without fear of crime or anti-social behaviour.

"Just as important however, is youngsters in the town know they will not be 'demonised' by their local neighbour-hood police teams.

"Providing they are using the park responsibly they have no need to fear interaction with the police, the park rangers, wardens or any other partner agency."

Insp Richards said the reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour in the park was an excellent example of the good results the new neighbourhood tasking process was already producing.

"The town tasking group meets formally on a fortnightly basis and issues raised by any partner around the table are addressed. Britannia Park was one of those issues and I am very happy to say it is now a success story."

* Have your say on this story at www.birminghammail.net/news/yoursay