POLICE and Crime Commissioner Sir Graham Bright held a ‘street surgery’ in Huntingdon town centre on Monday (July 22), giving residents the opportunity to raise their concerns about crime and community safety.

Top of the agenda was tackling speeding in the town and cycling in the High Street.

Sir Graham said: “I haven’t really had anyone today talk about crime as you and I would know it.

“Huntingdon hasn’t got nearly all the problems that some places have – it’s a nice place.”

Before the meeting, Sir Graham expected internet pornography, speeding and burglary to be residents’ primary concerns.

Sir Graham said: “People are concerned about speeding in general everywhere. Speed kills - particularly in an urban area. The difference between 30 and 35 miles an hour is the difference between whether a child is killed or not. More and more people want 20 mile per hour limits now.”

He added: “People are concerned about burglaries. The figures are down so low; it’s the fear of it rather than the reality.”

Accompanied by the Chief Constable Simon Parr for part of the two-hour session, Sir Graham chatted to between 30 and 40 residents at a stand by the fountain in the High Street.

When asked about his role, he said: “I’m the face of the public not the face of the police, I hold the police to account. I spend a lot of time finding out what people are thinking.”

With the insights that he has gained from talking to the public, Sir Graham will feedback to the Chief Constable, who will then take this into account when setting priorities for the police force.

Summing up the afternoon, Sir Graham said: “People knew who the police crime commissioner was and what I do. They said ‘we think you are doing a good job’- they were all pleased to see us.”