Gloucestershire PCC hopes to make it the "safest place in the country"
Chris Nelson has given an update on his election manifesto pledges
Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner says he wants to make it "the safest place in the country" as he releases an update on his election manifesto pledges.
Chris Nelson has outlined more details of the cornerstone of his election campaign - putting more police officers onto the streets.
It is the first big step in an ambitious three year plan to fulfil his promise to recruit an extra 300 officers which is the equivalent of a 26% increase in policing strength.
Following a review of the policing budget, Mr Nelson has outlined exactly how it's going to look.
More bobbies on the beat
Recruitment will include a combination of officers and staff as follows:
- 150 Police officers
- 50 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
- 103 Police staff (to include call handlers and investigators)
- 150 Special Constables/volunteer PCSOs
- Of the 150 police officers, 50 officers will be paid for by the Gloucestershire Constabulary.
- Another 100 are due to be recruited and trained as part of the Government funded uplift programme.
- The PCC also aims to expand its Special Constabulary and create a new role for volunteer PCSOs. They, and the extra police staff, will also be funded by the Constabulary.
- Fixing 101
- More than 100 call handlers, investigators and other staff, whose job is to provide excellent service to victims of crime, will also be brought in to support the uniformed officers.
- The service is currently experiencing call volumes to what is usually seen on New Years Eve with the average waiting time around 7 minutes.
- The investment in staff hopes to provide a better service to the public, having a deeper focus on victims which will lead to a faster and more effective response when dealing with crime.
- Community Policing
- A free public messaging system, Your Community Alerts, will be set up to allow residents, businesses and community groups to get in touch with each other and receive up to date information from the police.
- The Neighbourhood Watch scheme will be expanded and young people will also be encouraged to get involved in groups like Police Cadets, Police Cubs and Mini Police through the Citizens in Policing movement.
- PCC Chris Nelson said: "This is a landmark day in my mission to make Gloucestershire the safest place in the country.
- "The public told me what they want - to see more police in their neighbourhood, less anti-social behaviour on their streets and a quicker response when they call the police, and it was my election promise to ensure all that happens on their behalf.
- "It has taken a lot of hard work by many people in both the Constabulary and my office to find the budget to provide the resources.
- "This level of extra resources should have a transformational impact and it is now up to the police to produce the results the public are entitled to expect.