Last night at the Phoenix centre in St.Mary’s Park I joined other local councillors for a meeting with the new Prestwich & Whitefield Police Inspector, Mark Kenny.

The meeting was called by Inspector Kenny to discuss local issues and outline his plans and approach to policing in the area and of course to introduce himself.

It’s fair to say we were delighted with the innitiatives he outlined – of which you will here more later – and impressed with his enthusiasm and clear committment to dealing expediently with local crime hot spots and incidents.

As councillors we raised the issues of tackling the fear of crime, communications (from councillors, including updates), and we requested a meeting at the earliest convenience to look at cracking down on graffitti over the summer months.

In the meantime we wish Inspector Kenny every success in his new post, as indeed we wish outgoing Inspector, Dave Ryecroft, ever success in his new position.

He has the undoubted pleasure of being responsible for neighbourhood policing in a great part of Bury, with a great community spirit. A diverse and parochial community with apparent affluence on the surface but some significant pockets of severe deprivation.