Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC) which provided an update on media activity during the period since the last Panel meeting (for copy see file of Minutes).

Councillor Boyes referred to the media coverage of problems in the Stanley area and requested an update.  The PCVC informed the Panel that a lot of effort had been put in to the Stanley area to address these problems.  Councillor Nicholson, a local Member for the area praised the actions of the police in the area who could not be faulted and added that a channel was needed to address young people’s issues in the area.

The PCVC informed the Panel that he would feed the positive comments of Councillor Nicholson back to local officers.  The PCVC referred the Panel to The Loop, a project which took place in Durham before Christmas.  The Loop tested the quality of drugs which people took along to the testing centre and not one sample tested reflected what people thought the drug was.  It was intended to carry out the project again.  Councillor Hovvels informed the PCVC that the results from this testing could have implications for health professionals and asked whether this information had been shared.  The PCVC replied that the information would be shared with partners and would also be brought to the Panel for information.