Councillors Address Safety Issues
PAUL McLAUGHLIN
Last Wednesday (22 November), a full meeting of Hastings Borough councillors at Muriel Matters House discussed issues of violence, stab injuries and late night raves.
White Ribbon Day
The most emotional item of business was a motion in support of White Ribbon Day, presented by council leader Paul Barnett and passed unanimously. The event, held this year on 25 November, promotes the importance of sustained action to stop violence, mainly perpetrated by men, against women and girls. The motion called on the council to ensure that action against such violence remains a priority in community safety work. The motion also encouraged all male councillors to become White Ribbon Ambassadors and to speak out against all forms of domestic violence, including challenging seemingly ‘harmless’ attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate this abuse.
Several female councillors recounted harrowing and emotional experiences of the violence and abuse they had suffered at the hands of their partners. Male councillors, too, shared memories of the abuse they had witnessed as children seeing their parents being beaten.
Bleed Cabinet Roll-out
Judy Rogers, the Planning, Governance, Community Safety and Disabled Access portfolio holder, updated the council on the roll-out across town of new Bleed Cabinets. The cabinets contain items that can be used to help people if they have suffered a severe bleed trauma as a result of a stabbing or following a major accident. The first was opened last week in Wellington Place; others will be installed before Christmas in Priory Meadow Shopping Centre and in George Street.
Mrs Rogers emphasised the importance of training local people in how to use the cabinets. The council will instruct the staff from adjacent business premises in their use. The cost of the initiative is coming from the Community Safety budget.
Bottle Alley
Mrs Rogers also reported on a series of recent late-night raves on Bottle Alley. She was told these events were causing a major nuisance to local residents and passers-by and were leaving a trail of broken glass, needles, used condoms and human waste to be cleared up by council workers in their wake.
She reported that the police were aware of what was happening and had increased patrols in the area. Low ceilings in the alley meant that CCTV was unsuitable as cameras could be easily vandalised. The council would work more closely with the police, she pledged, to address the problem.
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