Elm Street Police Station to re open.

Good news in the Star tonight- the little police station on City Road is planned to re-open.
Elm Tree police station, at Manor Top, Sheffield, was closed down years ago after it was set on fire. The neglected station became a magnet for youths and addicts. But the whole story rather begs the question why was the station allowed to fall into such misuse in the first place? Surely it is obvious that one of the most deprived estates in the country needs its police stations?
To create safer neighbourhoods we need police patrolling our streets and engaging in crime prevention.

Here are some of the other things on the Greens wish list concerning crime.


• Look to establish restorative justice as a key feature of the UK criminal justice system. The primary aim will be to restore and, if necessary, improve the position of the victim and the community; the offender will be required to make amends.
• Improve the design of our cities to provide safer streets and public spaces.
• Ensure universal access to high quality youth centres to provide an outlet for young people outside of school hours.
• Bring in a Civil Law Injunction Programme (CLIP) to more effectively deal with anti-social behaviour.
• Oppose any further privatisation of the prison system, as it is vital that where custody is used it is effective in preventing offenders from re-offending.

Area Panel

The Area Panel met on Feb 1st. Unfortunately I wasn't able to be there as it was during the day when I am at work. You can find out all about the area panel and read the minutes and download the newsletter here.
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/area-action/manor-castle-and-woodthorpe-area-action
I think the panel should meet in the evening when people are available to attend.

Problems on the Manor

The Star reported on its front page this week that the RAC now refuses to visit the Manor Estate at night, following an assault on one of its rescue staff. I sent the following letter in response.

Dear Editor

I was not surprised to see your headline on Tuesday 24th
(RAC Manor no go area) but am very disappointed with the
RAC's attitude. If emergency services refuse to go to the
Manor it means that the yobs have won. I am under no illusions
about the difficulties. As a candidate in the local elections
I have spent much of this week delivering election leaflets
on the Manor. I have been threatened and verbally abused by
two different gangs of youngsters. I came across a resident
who had just found that her car window had been smashed and
the contents stolen. I have visited blocks of flats where the
corridors were strewn with broken glass and the stairwells had
puddles of urine.I have noticed "home made" road blocks,
presumably to prevent police cars following stolen vehicles.

However, on my travels around the Manor I have also met polite
and friendly young children, found immaculate, beautifully
cared for, front gardens and talked to many residents, old and
young, who are concerned about their community and want to
improve it. The Manor is a massive estate, and most of it
does not deserve the stereotype of a "sink estate" that is
often given to it.The emergency services have a duty to the
many good decent folk of the Manor to help and protect them.

What I have not seen, in all my time leafleting, is a single
police officer. If we are to restore order to this community,
we need a much bigger police presence, not just in cars, but
on bikes and on foot. What is also very relevant is that the
Youth Service has been decimated. If we can't engage young
people in useful activities, then they are likely to get
up to no good.

I have written to the RAC asking them to change their
policy of not visiting the Manor at night. Most Sheffield
drivers will at some time or other go along Prince of Wales
Road, even if they don't venture into the estate. My advice
to all Sheffield drivers would be to leave the RAC and join
the Environmental Transport Association,that not only offers
an excellent breakdown service to all areas of the country,
but also campaigns for environmentally friendly transport.

Yours sincerely

Graham Wroe
Manor Castle Green Party

I have as yet not had a reply from the RAC.