Watford gets a visit from the Police and Crime Commissioner

The Police and Crime Commissioner visited police, council and community groups working in Watford on Friday as part of a ‘District Day’ spent focusing on particular issues for the area. David Lloyd, started the day visiting the police station to discuss issues affecting the town with Chief Inspector Dave Wheatley before going to meet Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill at Watford Borough Council offices. The Commissioner discussed on-going partnership work to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour with the Mayor before attending a Purple Flag presentation. Watford was awarded the flag last year because of its “excellence” in town management at night. He was then given a briefing about the Scan Net system, which includes scanning ID at night spots, by Sgt Simon Mason from the Watford Safer Neighbourhood Team.  He also went to St Mary’s Church to discuss the town centre chaplaincy, God After Dark (GAD) and Street Angels initiatives, which offer care to the people using the pubs and clubs during the evening and nights. He then also visited leaders at the Central Mosque and stopped by at West Herts College to see work by Art & Design students. District Days are a series of events where the Commissioner spends a day in each of the county’s 10 districts and boroughs. Commissioner Lloyd said: “Engaging with the community across Hertfordshire has been a priority during my first year in office. I regularly travel around the county meeting groups and organisations, but these District Days enable me to take a close up look at the work going on within each of the 10 districts and boroughs. It was I was delighted to visit Watford. “I was particularly pleased to learn more about Scan Net. The scheme was paid for by the businesses themselves and has had a direct impact on the level of crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. “Not only does this show how businesses can work with police to reduce crime, which is something I believe we can do more of, but the clubs and bars themselves have benefitted because their venues are now safer places to visit. This shows what can happen when businesses and police come together to fight crime.” Commissioner Lloyd can also be contacted via email on commissioner@herts.pnn.police.uk.