Chiefs tackle crime with a special PC for every beat

Fourteen police community support officers (PCSOs) now work in Richmondshire - eight more than when the neighbourhood policing initiative was launched in the district last year.

To tie in with the Home Office's Name for Every Neighbourhood campaign, senior officers have allocated a PCSO to every ward in the district.

The aim is to help residents and the officers build up a relationship so they can work together to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Police chiefs and community leaders in Richmondshire say that the increase in PCSOs is helping to reduce low-level crime and residents' fear of crime.

Inspector Nick Hunter, police commander for Richmondshire, said: "The introduction of PCSOs has been a great success, especially in Richmondshire. The main improvement is far better engagement with the community.

"We can identify residents' problems and their priorities; we are able to deal with them and then we feedback to the community about what we have done."

District councillor Stuart Parsons, member for Richmond West, passes on issues raised by residents to the PCSO team.

He said: "Residents are delighted that they've got their bobby back on the beat. They are over the moon that someone has bothered to call and find out what the problem is, and I've not heard a negative comment about the police since this was launched."

PCSO Gavin Dobson, who works in the Richmond West ward, said: "I feel good to be a member of the community and to be able to help - I'm proud to be a part. I speak to all sorts of people from the very young to the elderly and they're all happy to speak to me."

Elsewhere in the district, PCSOs have helped to run youth clubs in Catterick Garrison and tackled a vandalism problem in Hawes.

Insp Hunter said the number of constables had not been reduced because of the increase in PCSOs.

Call 0845-60-60-247 to contact your local police community support officer, listed right.