Norfolk Federation of Women’s Institutes holds its annual general meeting at St Andrew’s Hall in Norwich

One of Norfolk's police chiefs has spoken of the need for services to work together in a more cohesive manner to help prevent 'predictable and preventable' crime.

Deputy Chief Constable Simon Bailey was one of the speakers at the Norfolk Federation of Women's Institutes' annual meeting held today at St Andrew's Hall in Norwich.

He spoke of how he was now seeing the sons and daughters of people he was arresting and charging 25 years ago in similar situations, and said he felt this could be prevented if services, including probation, mental health and children's services, could work together more.

He also spoke of how Norfolk Constabulary was one of the best performing police forces in England, and how there had been a 24pc reduction in anti-social behaviour in the last year, achieved against a backdrop of significant government cuts.

He said there were due to be further cuts but Norfolk Constabulary was trying to ensure, as much as possible, that the numbers of police officers and PCSOs in the community were maintained. He said the police force was proud that Norfolk could say it was the safest county in England, and he said while there were some real challenges he was optimistic about the future.

Several hundred Women's Institute members attended today's event.

Sally Paramour, chairman of the Norfolk Federation of Women's Institutes, said it had been busy, sometimes challenging, but successful year for the WI which was all about having fun, cementing friendships, learning new things and contributing to the community.

She said there had been some extremely well-supported events, among them photography, singing, handicrafts, and sporting events, and a trip to London looking at the Royal Albert Hall and the Olympic sites.

She said the federation's Royal Norfolk Show stand would be on the theme Great Britain Celebrates, and said this year was also the 60th anniversary of the federation's Norwich base, Evelyn Suffield House, being purchased.

To mark the occasion it will host a pop-up charity shop in August.

She said there had also been a meeting about whether to reform a Norfolk bus users group to promote dialogue between bus operators and bus users across the county.

The meeting heard from the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) about how WI members have helped women in Papua New Guinea start up new businesses, and how they were now looking to help women farmers in Uganda.

Speakers also included Laura Wigby and Natasha Lacey, from the Golden Triangle Girls WI, and Sue Spoerer, from the National Pharmacy Association.

• emma.knights@archant.co.uk