Residents across Northamptonshire submitted over 100 questions to Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet and PFCC Danielle Stone, covering anti-social behaviour, illegal e-scooters, and new policing technology in a live online Q&A.
Residents across Northamptonshire were invited to put their questions directly to Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone during the latest live “Chat with the Chiefs” event.
Broadcast online via Facebook and YouTube on the evening of March 31, the session drew significant public engagement, with more than 100 questions submitted by residents on a wide range of local concerns.
Opening the discussion, both Mr Balhatchet and Ms Stone reflected on progress made since the inaugural session held in October. Among the developments highlighted were renewed efforts to curb anti-social behaviour in Rushden, alongside a county-wide survey that gathered the views of more than 2,500 young people on policing and community safety. Updates were also provided on the deployment of live facial recognition technology.
Transport issues featured prominently in the discussion, particularly the ongoing problem of illegal e-scooters. Mr Balhatchet pointed to the recent impact of Operation Journey, a targeted enforcement campaign that resulted in the seizure of more than 120 unlawful e-bikes in the past week alone.
Ms Stone emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in policing, noting that public forums such as these play a vital role. She said ensuring the Chief Constable is held to account remains central to her responsibilities, adding that the online sessions offer residents a direct voice while making senior leadership more visible and accessible to the communities they serve.
