Polite Request

Dear Resident,

My name is PC 2204 Ben Kirby and I’m one of the local officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team responsible for the Verulam Ward.

I am reaching out to the community to appeal for calm regarding the contentious issue of the development of pockets of lands across the King Harry / Verulam estate. As the police we completely understand that this is a controversial proposal where there is bad feel between developers and local residents who do not agree with their actions. As the police we have to leave the development process in the hands of the decision makers in the local and county councils as we have no jurisdiction to govern the process or any role to play.

I am however personally reaching out to residents as there have been a series of targeted damages to certain sites across the estate, including repeated damage at the plot near Lindum Place. On viewing CCTV, every one of these damages is deliberate and completely avoidable. This is where the police have jurisdiction and have to get involved in investigating the criminal matters reported. The actions serve no purpose to the planning process and may lead the offender to receiving a criminal sanction. My plea to residents is that these investigations take time and resources away from other police functions and at a time where the police are working hard to protect people's homes from burglaries, this is where we would prefer to concentrate our efforts. 

I understand that this email has been received by many, but relates to only a few and so I apologise for this. I send it with the sole intention of stopping the damages and reducing the burden the investigations are placing on the police.
 

Kind regards,