Staffordshire's new police chief working to make the force more local
Chief Constable Chris Noble's first task is to put more officers in communities
The new Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police has told Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire News that people across the county can expect a far more local police service for 2022.
Chris Noble joins the force having served in Northern Ireland and Yorkshire where he specialised in counter-terrorism, protests, local response and neighbourhood policing.
Committed to increasing police officer visibility
Chris has joined officers on patrols across the county over the last few weeks to see their work in action. He’s visited Burton, Cannock, Rugeley, Lichfield, Burslem, Hanley, Leek and Codsall to name a few.
He said: “I’ve really enjoyed getting out and about across the city and the county recently and meeting local people to fully understand local issues.
“It is clear that our communities want to see more officers and want our local teams to have an in-depth understanding of some of the challenges they face every day. I, too, share this wish and I am committed to growing our local teams.
“But we only have a finite number of resources. Staffordshire Police is one of the most stretched police forces in the country with one of the fewest number of police officers per head of the population.
More time in the heart of local communities
“Whilst we may not be able to increase officer numbers overnight, what we can do is look at where our officers are based. Having an increased number of officers at local bases will reduce travel time and increase the time we have to tackle the issues that matter most to communities.”
Further to this, Chris says delivering a good local police service is not just about a policing model.
“It means us having a local mindset in everything we do. This will allow us to provide a service that is tailored for individuals, families and communities so they feel listened to and supported.
“We also need to be passionate about caring for victims of crime - protecting them and working hard to track down those individuals who cause them harm and working with others to prevent further offending.
It will mean officers can respond to 999 calls quicker
“And finally, it’s about us working with partner agencies on a local level, as effective policing cannot be delivered by the police alone.”
Alongside his promise to Staffordshire communities, Chris Noble has also made a clear commitment to the Staffordshire Police workforce.
“Police officers, staff and volunteers work under incredibly challenging circumstances, dealing with difficult situations on a daily basis that most of us don’t witness in a lifetime. Ensuring the organisation cares for them and provides them with the right support will ensure they are in the best possible shape to serve the public.”
Over the coming months Chris will be developing Staffordshire’s next policing plan, which is in keeping with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s new Police and Crime Plan.
Hear the latest news from across Staffordshire and Cheshire on the hour, every hour, on 102.6FM, 96.9FM & 96.4FM. You can also listen on DAB, smart speaker, at signal1.co.uk and on the Signal 1 app