Celebrating Neighbourhood Policing's vital role in keeping communities safe

This week, Avon and Somerset Police are celebrating the work of their Neighbourhood Policing Teams, as part of national Neighbourhood Policing Week.

The week of action started on Monday 23rd and runs until Sunday 29th of January and aims to highlight the vital work that neighbourhood officers, PCSOs and volunteers do to keep people safe.

Avon and Somerset Police’s Head of Neighbourhoods and Partnerships Chief Superintendent Liz Hughes said: “Neighbourhood policing teams are at the heart of their communities, working with local people to tackle problems, and solving the issues which matter most to them.

“They are a visible presence in their communities and play a vital role in preventing and solving crime. By working with key local community leaders and businesses, neighbourhood officers develop a deep understanding of the issues that can affect people’s day-to-day lives. They understand the social dynamics of the areas they work in and can get under the skin of complex problems such as anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, criminal damage and acquisitive crime, which can cause misery in communities and ruin people’s quality of life.

“A big part of neighbourhood policing involves building relationships and engaging with young people through community initiatives, sport, and school visits. This allows young people to see officers as humans, who want to help them to be the best version of themselves. They work closely with the multi-agency Violence Reduction Units to ensure children who are at risk of criminal exploitation are supported and diverted away from these dangers."

“The feedback we regularly hear from the public is that they want us to prioritise neighbourhood policing and want to see and hear from their local teams as much as possible. I believe this is a testament to the value these hard-working officers add to their communities and am thrilled we can shine a light on their important work during this week of action.”

In Bath last week, PCSOs Carla and Kieran worked with the Mini Police from St Michael’s Junior School in Twerton, to teach them about all the work officers do around Avon and Somerset. They even gave them a tour of a police car, which prompted curious and interesting conversations and inspired the children to think widely about the work the police do to keep people safe.

Chief Superintendent Hughes added: “Your local neighbourhood policing team is there for you, so please do reach out and let them help you with any issues you might have. If you are planning a community engagement event, work in a school, run a youth club, own a local business or just want some advice on crime prevention, your local team will be pleased to help.”

Visit Avon and Somerset Police and type your postcode into the ‘what is happening in your area’ section to see the members of your local team and how to contact them.

Throughout the week, Avon and Somerset Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be showcasing the varied and valuable work they do on their local Facebook and Twitter.

You can find their local account handles below.