Return to a local policing initiative (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Return to a local policing initiative

PERSHORE town councillors were told about new and exciting ideas for the future of local policing during a presentation at a meeting last Thursday.

PC Paul Adams was joined by Sgt Jill Francis at the Pershore town council meeting to explain plans which will see police return to more of an old fashioned way of policing, making officers easier to contact and more noticeable on the streets.

A new initiative due to be launched in July called Partners in Communities Together (PACT) will seek to involve the community as a whole by putting them together in a forum with businesses, council members and police in order to make certain decisions.

PC Adams said: "This scheme will be more like local policing was when I first joined the force. The idea is that the police will support the forum but it will be driven by the community, so we can focus on what the public want us to look at.

"This could be issues such as vandalism, cars speeding along the streets, parking issues and stopping anti social behaviour when you walk through Pershore in an evening.

"Basically, we want to be told about anything that is affecting the quality of life of residents.

"We will have people knocking on doors so they can meet face to face and encourage members of the public to come to us so we can deal with their problems.

"PACT has already been given a trial run in north Worcestershire and it has worked to put pressure on local authorities to deliver the high standard of services they should."

PC Adams also told the councillors that for the first time, individual officers would have a direct line to be contacted on, meaning callers would not have to always go through call centres.

It was also announced that former Community Support Officer for Pershore Gary Shepherd, will be replaced in September when the number of beat managers in Wychavon will increase.