11:10am Thursday 1st December 2011
By James Wilson
CHESHIRE Police has said it regrets causing some of the people who attended the Stanley Centre public meeting to feel intimidated.
As reported in the Guardian last week, residents said they were unhappy about the presence of two police officers – one a PCSO and the other a Special Constable – at the meeting held on Tuesday, November 15.
The meeting was held to discuss the ongoing consultation being carried out by Cheshire East Council into the provision of adult day care in the borough.
Due to the concerns raised – and at the request of concerned residents – a meeting was held with Chf Supt Mick Garrihy, area commander for the north of Cheshire, at Knutsford Police station on Friday, November 25.
In a statement to the Guardian he said the police were at the meeting to provide reassurance.
“Cheshire East Council requested a PCSO to provide reassurance during a meeting which was expected to debate challenging local public service issues,” he said.
“The PCSO attended with the sole intention of providing reassurance to all attendees. A volunteer member of the public carrying out the role of a Special Constable also attended during his tour of duty to provide the same.
“It would appear their presence may have caused those present to feel intimidated. I must stress this was not the intention and it is regrettable if those attending felt this way.
“The issues discussed were matters for Cheshire East Council and the community. The police rightly remain entirely independent in such circumstances.”
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