17
Feb
2016
By Calvin at 11:12 GMT, 9 years ago
Bedfordshire PCC press release
A new crime prevention scheme involving Parish Special Constables working alongside community ‘Watch’ members is to be launched in Bedfordshire towns and villages following Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins’ consultations with residents and parish councils.
The Commissioner has commissioned Operation Salcoats as a crime prevention and community reassurance scheme in response to feedback he has received. This latest addition to visible policing reflects his own commitment to tackling not only serious crime but also problems which affect residents’ quality of life.
Due to begin on 20 February, it results from Mr Martins’ attendance at Parish Council meetings across the county when he highlighted the policing challenges faced by Bedfordshire Police.
Mr Martins said: “Our first dedicated Parish Special Constables will be working on this operation directly with the Watch schemes to ensure enforcement of speed offences, carry out home burglary surveys and promote community engagement.
“This is the sort of scheme that I believe will bring much benefit to our local communities, helping them to feel safer and boosting each community’s sense of involvement in their neighbourhoods.”
Just like their long-established Specials colleagues, the Parish Special Constables have the power to arrest and issue fines. This, the Commissioner points out: “supports the visible policing that is so important for increasing confidence in communities.”
Mark Collins, Bedfordshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable: “Bedfordshire Police is committed to serving rural areas and Operation Salcoats enhances that by introducing dedicated Community Special Constables with a particular remit to liaise and work even more closely with our Parish Councils and local Watch schemes. Partnership and problem-solving work like this supports the vision of the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner to protect people and fight crime together.”
The Commissioner has invited all Parish Council chairs and Watch scheme coordinators to a briefing at Police Headquarters on 15 February so they can see how the operation will work. Places are limited and those wishing to attend should contact katie.stanton@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk to reserve their place.
Anyone interested, including members of the press, in coming along on 20 February to see the first day of live action at Maulden Village Hall, Bedfordshire. A briefing will take place for those involved at 10:00hrs with presentations on Special Constabulary recruitment and Volunteering from 10.30hrs. The Commissioner will also be available for residents to discuss their policing concerns.
Ends
TCPW Comment: It’s good to hear the words ‘crime prevention’ and ‘problem-solving’ being uttered again by a PCC and a Chief Constable and I wish the operation every success. Of course, its success does rely on people volunteering to become one of these new Parish Constables and so if this is something you are interested in doing then I’m sure Bedfordshire Police would love to hear from you. Parish Constables are just like any other Special Constable except they choose to dedicate their time to policing a specific area; in this case a Parish. Incidentally, I’m not quite sure what ‘home burglary surveys’ are, but I am presuming they are visits to people who have suffered a burglary in order to give them some crime prevention advice, or may be not; maybe it’s the other way round – advice first to prevent the burglary, which would seem to make sense.
Here’s the link to Bedfordshire Police’s Special Constable recruitment page. Do please have a read. http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/recruitment/special_constables.aspx
Source Bedfordshire PCC: http://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/News-and-Events/Archived-News/2016/PR-273.aspx
