More neighbourhood policing in Northamptonshire
A new animated film spotlights the work
A new animated film that highlights the work of neighbourhood policing teams in the county is now being shared on the Northamptonshire Police website and across its social media channels.
The four minute film explains the role of neighbourhood police officers and how their work both differs and complements that of other policing roles, such as response teams who deal with emergency and urgent calls for assistance, and CID detectives who focus on the investigation of more serious cases such as violent crime.
Head of Local Police, Chief Superintendent Chris Hillery, said:
“Our short animation film provides a simple overview of neighbourhood policing in Northamptonshire, how it compares to other areas of policing and the role of our neighbourhood officers and PCSOs.
“When people think about the work of a police officer, they often think it’s all about dealing with blue light emergencies and investigating crime. Which, of course, is hugely important.
“However, neighbourhood policing enables a grass roots partnership between the local community and our teams , where officers can really get to know and be known in their local community, understand the issues that are affecting people’s feelings of safety and quality of life, and work with partner agencies to tackle the issues that matter most to local people.
“The animation is intended to be a fun way to explain this important part of policing that often doesn’t have the same profile as other functions but is critical to policing and communities. We want people to know there is a team of officers allocated to their local area, who they can contact to raise any concerns they have about local crime and policing issues.
“A vital part of a neighbourhood officer’s role is to be visible and accessible within the community they police. Alongside regular patrols, officers and PCSOs hold surgeries on their patch, either in local venues or with one of our two Neighbourhood Beat Buses.
“These provide a great opportunity for officers to meet and chat with people in person, but we know we’ll only get to speak with a limited number of people in this way. It’s important we also make use of digital tools to help us reach and encourage conversation with as many people as possible."
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone funded the creation of the video. She said:
“Putting neighbourhood policing teams at the heart of the communities they serve is a top priority.
“This film aims to explain how neighbourhood officers are working, with partners, to solve problems on their patch and deal with the issues that people really care about. It’s part of a wider plan to build understanding and pave the way to improved engagement with local people.”