We appear to be making progress

So upon my return from my Officer Safery training, I have completed my first patrol. We have some updates, It is hoped that the shutters will be fitted soon at the drop in Centre, and My patrols found no one there.

I will be out for the evening until about 11pm.

I also hear from Morrisons that their plan to fit bollards on the mount is going ahead. So hopefully that will actually open up that area, and prevent cars or vans parking there and causing a enclave no one wants.

The staff at Dharma cafe at the bottom of Grove Road have been proactively policing their customers, and threatened them with the wrath of PC Loveday (I gave the staff my phone number) and this appears to have had a positive effect. It may not be perfect yet, but the staff and owner are on board and actually enthusiastic about chasing away the cannabis smokers.

We have been in the carpark a lot and appear to be making some progress, Morrisons security staff report the Mount has been a lot calmer and the car park is seeing less foottraffic.

One sad note I heard today, One of our street drug users sadly passed away over the weekend. He was younger than me, and amongst my team he was thought of fondly. Although not without his issues, he was always polite and co-operative. He would listen when we asked him to move on and avoid areas. He will be missed. 

It is a reminder that although we often think of them only as the cause of our work, or our issues, but at the same time, they are also pretty desperate people.