CPP 2011and 2012 Leaflets Misinformation

The CPP is independent of both the Police and the Council. Untrue. Its administrator is a Council employee. The Council administers its grant. The police have a veto on CPP membership. The Councils Chief Executive is its Honorary Clerk. The CPP welcomes participation from all faith groups, senior citizens and young people... in fact, from all members of the community. This could be YOU... or one of your family, a friend or a neighbour. Untrue. Public participation is limited to one highly qualified/censored question to the policeman, whose reply, however dismissive, cannot be challenged. The CPP discusses aspects of policing which concern YOU, the residents of Richmond upon Thames. Untrue. There is no discussion whatsoever involving concerns of members or the public about any aspect of policing that might embarrass or show the police in a bad light. The CPP represents you as a member of this community. To do this effectively, we need to meet you and hear what you have to say. Are you interested in policing matters? If so, come and hear what is happening locally and have your say. Untrue. The CPP refuses to hear what you have to say or allow the public to have your say. They only permit a member of the public to ask a censored question. This is not the same thing in any way, shape or form. Policing issues are a matter of concern for all of us. In a spirit of co-operation we can work to resolve these issues within our local Police Division. While policing matters concern all of us, the public are only permitted to ask questions relating to current policing matters which affect the whole community. It should be noted that after that time only members of the CPP can ask questions.(CPP Agenda). Please do find the time to come along You will be most welcome. A sick joke. At the May meeting the public (well, in fact only me) had to wait patiently in silence for 1 hour and 40 minutes before the question time period came around. At the July meeting I was thrown out for protesting that there had not been a questions from the public (i.e. only me again) segment. At the September meeting the same thing happened only that time violence was used to escort me (yet again the only member of the public attending to ask a question) from the room. Please come along to our informal meetings. Untrue. The formality is profound. The public are not permitted to speak or comment at any time outside of the (now redundant) 5-minute question time period, or to question visiting speakers. The word informal has been omitted from the 2012 leaflet. By attending these you can influence the policing priorities in your area contribute to a safer community and help identify action needed to combat crime. Untrue. It is absolutely impossible to do any of these by asking a limited question. All above statements in black were copied and pasted from the CPP 2011 leaflet.

M. Hewstone