Final event in Wick as part of project looking at confidence in policing
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A final event is being held in Wick at the end of this month as part of an initiative looking at how confidence in policing can be improved.
Engagement is being carried out by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and Police Scotland around the country under the title Community Confidence Action Research.
In the Wick area, there have been online surveys and "community conversations".
The final event, looking at what has been achieved, will be held at the Pulteney Centre in Huddart Street on Wednesday, March 27, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm .
The SPA says: "This event will outline the work that has been undertaken in Wick as part of this project along with the future of the initiatives undertaken by Police Scotland. We also want to hear from people in Wick on their views of the project and any feedback that could inform learning for future projects.
"This event is open to residents, community groups and others who regularly visit Wick, and refreshments will be provided.
"The event forms part of a piece of research which the SPA and Police Scotland are carrying out in various locations across Scotland. The wider research project, which closes in April 2024, has aimed to understand more about confidence in policing in areas that experience deprivation in some way, as national research indicates that confidence in the police is lower.
"This [deprivation] can mean many different things, for instance not having local access to a GP surgery, or having infrequent public transport links, and is not solely about income or employment.
"Spaces will be limited and we therefore require people to sign up by Monday, March 25."
Anyone interested in attending is asked to sign up online at spa.citizenspace.com
The email address is ProjectDeprivationAndConfidence@spa.police.uk and phone numbers are 07384 875935 or 07384 875913.
As part of the initiative, an event was held at the Pulteney Centre in July last year.
On that occasion, Police Scotland’s area inspector for Caithness acknowledged that members of the public wanted officers to be more visible and more accessible.
Inspector Stephen Mezals also revealed that some 70 per cent of police work is “not related to crime”, while giving an assurance that Highland communities were still among the safest places to live in the country.
A final report for Wick will be issued at a later date.
