Widnes citizens' assembly

Who took part?

33 people from Widnes took part. They were chosen so the group reflected a range of ages, backgrounds and views. Some with positive experiences with the police, some who don’t and people with all sorts of views. The group was chosen so it reflected the local area.

How it worked

Participants took part in three face-to-face workshops, where they:

• Learned about how local policing works
• Heard facts and information about crime and police decisions
• Shared their own experiences and views in open, honest discussions

What residents said was important

During the first workshop, the group agreed on a list of initial priorities, which included:

• More visible policing
  People felt the police were too invisible and wanted officers patrolling and engaging with the community
• Tackle low level crime
  Issues like anti-social behaviour (ASB), theft, drug dealing and ebike problems.
• Consequences for young people

Residents felt that young people were often responsible for crime and wanted stronger deterrents.

• Better feedback from police
  Keeping the public up-to-date on what police are doing helps build trust and confidence.

Learning and discussion

As the assembly learned more about crime and policing, members got a deeper understanding of how complex policing can be. Such as the need to respond to hidden crimes like domestic abuse alongside visible local issues.

Some assembly members were surprised by how common certain crimes are and how police have to balance different priorities.

Final priorities from the Assembly

After learning more and discussing the issues in depth, the assembly agreed on three final priorities for their local policing area.

1. Prevention and education
   Focus on long-term solutions that help to stop crime before it happens, especially through community support and outreach.
2. Tackling domestic abuse
   Domestic abuse was identified as a serious local issue and the group wanted to see stronger action to reduce its rate in the area.
3. Police visibility
   Residents want officers to be seen and accessible in their communities so people feel safe and better connected to local policing efforts.

Why this matters

The Widnes Citizens’ Assembly is part of Dan Price’s commitment to listen to residents and involve them in setting policing priorities rather than making decisions for them. The process helps ensure that policing reflects local people’s real concerns and that communities have a genuine voice in shaping how they are kept safe.