Other recommendations
Public Safety
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Cookham has twice the level of theft from vehicles compared with the whole of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and the surrounding areas. The current provisions for crime prevention are not adequate; this means that Cookham is targeted by thieves because they are more likely to get away with their crimes. There is evidence to suggest that most local crime is committed by persons from outside the community.
Experience gained from other communities shows that corrective measures do work. A package of measures needs to be introduced to improve the situation, which will work provided that it is applied as a whole. CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) that works at night, and which is capable of remote control, records continuously and has its recordings archived and accessible is essential. Lighting and signage are also important, as is community awareness and education.
If Cookham does not provide this kind of deterrent package and other places do, Cookham will continue to be targeted. We are conscious that in recent months there has also been an increase in car and other crime in the more rural parts of the Village.
As mentioned elsewhere, we are anxious to support our local Police and Community Support Officers, and recommend that the Police Room, currently at Odney, is moved to a more central point close to the Station.
The Steering Committee is anxious to ensure that our much-valued and highly-professional local Voluntary Fire Service remains in the Village. However, if it is reduced further or discontinued, then we recommend that car parking and access to parking in Marsh Meadow should be considered on the Fire Station site (see The Moor Car Park and Marsh Meadow).