Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe has launched a summer-long public consultation to find out people’s views on policing and community safety.

The consultation will help the Commissioner shape the next Police and Crime Plan for Warwickshire, which sets out the strategic direction for policing in the county as well as how the Warwickshire Police will work with other partner organisations to reduce crime and improve community safety.

The PCC is seeking the views of residents, businesses, community groups, partner organisations and victims of crime in order to get as wide a range of views as possible.

“Listening and engaging with the public is a fundamental part of my role and allows me to speak up on your behalf to ensure that the police service is acting on your needs and concerns,” said Mr Seccombe.

“It is only right that local people should have a part to play in shaping the Police and Crime Plan and I am keen to hear from everyone who makes up Warwickshire  – whether they live here, work here, run a business here or who have been a victim of crime here. The survey is quick and easy to complete and I hope to hear from as many people as possible.”

The survey asks people to consider how different aspects of keeping communities safe should be prioritised, including detecting and preventing harm, protecting the vulnerable and reducing crime.  It also asks people to say how safe they currently feel in Warwickshire and to rate how well Warwickshire Police is performing.

Mr Seccombe added: “Keeping people safe from harm often involves many activities which are not obvious to the public, as well as involving other agencies alongside the police.  The nature of crime itself is also changing, with increases in cyber crime, an enhanced terrorist threat and the need to protect against child sexual exploitation being among the areas which increased focus will need to be placed and this is reflected in the survey questions.

“It is important that the survey gathers opinions across the whole breadth of policing and community safety and I would urge people to spare a few minutes to have their say.”

People can respond to the survey online at www.warwickshire-pcc.gov.uk or call 01926 412322 to request a hard copy printed version.

Alternatively, write to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, 3 Northgate Street, Warwick CV34 4SP to request a hard copy version of the consultation survey.

The consultation closes on Friday 26 August, 2016.

Warwickshire residents are being invited to join an acclaimed recycling rewards programme which started life in neighbouring Northamptonshire.

With ‘I’m In to Win’, residents have the chance to win prizes just by registering at www.feedyourcaddy.co.uk, pledging to recycle all their food waste and actively participating in the kerbside-collected food waste programme. Monthly prizes range from free leisure passes, experiences and days out as well as vouchers for local shops and restaurants.

After registering online at www.feedyourcaddy.co.uk or at a roadshow event, Warwickshire participants will receive a free welcome pack containing an ‘I’m in to Win’ sticker to attach to the lid of their green wheeled bin. Each month five stickered bins will be selected at random to win a choice of prizes. Forthcoming roadshow events are listed at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/foodwaste.

To help make food waste recycling even easier, Warwickshire district and borough councils have limited stocks of free kitchen food waste caddies – visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/kerbside for further details.

Warwickshire’s ‘I’m In to Win’ scheme is open to county residents only, and terms and conditions apply.

The Leamington branch of the Alzheimer’s Society announce the opening of their official Young Onset Dementia Café!

The cafe will be at WarwickSpace in Warwick on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month from 11am–1pm. The launch date is Tuesday 19^th July.

There is no service within Warwickshire at the moment directly for people who are diagnosed with a form of dementia under the age of 65, and so they are delighted to announce this new service.

If you know of anyone under the age of 65 who you think may be interested in this service, then please do let them know.

The café will include a range of activities chosen by the attendees and we hope to have activities such as walks, art therapy, and even boating on the lake!  The café will also provide people with the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation.

Please do spread the word about this new café, and if you have any questions then give the society a call on 01926 88-88-99.