Pendle burglary victim helps to improve police service (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Pendle burglary victim helps to improve police service

9:16am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Pendle By Vanessa Cornall, Crime reporter

A BURGLARY victim has been helping the police in East Lancashire to improve the service they deliver to the local community.

Pendle Coun Margaret Foxley helped set up the county's first Victim and Community Advisory Panel in Colne, after a burglar stole her laptop containing treasured photos of her daughter who died in a car crash six months earlier.

Coun Foxley then became the first victim of crime in Lancashire to go into a prison to meet the person who committed the offence as part of a 'restorative justice' programme. The panel, which was launched in April, has now met twice and looks at various aspects of the policing service and how they communicate with the community they serve.

Coun Foxley said: "The members of the panel had the chance to talk about their experience of crime and about how the police could help victims. The group involves both young and elderly people with range of skills and age in order to truly represent local communities. The idea is that people in the community can eventually help to solve local issues with the help of police."

As well as local councillors and members of the public, the panel includes Lancashire Constabulary’s Head of Criminal Justice Tim Ewen and Chief Inspector Jon Bullas.

Chief Inspector Bullas, said: "The panel are able to discuss concerns they have about their local area and give feedback following any contact with the police. The first couple of meetings have been really successful with volunteers keen to explore how we can use restorative justice to resolve community problems in the future.”

Volunteers should call Cheryl Furness on 01282 472173.