MEET the newly formed town centre focused team from St Helens Police as they discuss the influence they are having in the town, ahead of Neighbourhood Policing Week.
The national week of action is aimed at highlighting the positive impact that neighbourhood policing has on communities throughout the year by reducing crime and keeping people safe.
On the back of this week, the Star was invited to meet the newly formed St Helens town centre-focused team tackling the crime and anti-social behaviour issues in the area and working in partnership with other services to benefit the community.
Among the complaints of Star readers has been the levels of anti-social behaviour on the streets and it is hoped a stronger police presence - working with partnership agencies - will give the public more confidence.
Inspector of Neighbourhood Policing in St Helens Josh Griffiths said: “So far it has been really productive time since we set it up and have offered businesses support in the areas of burglary, theft and ensuring businesses know we are here to support them.
“It’s been good for us too as we’ve been able through the partnership to better aid people who are in need of extra support and it’s all about being proactive and preventative and being faces familiar in the community to aid the town.”
The new approach sees police working with a number of partner agencies across the town.
Rachel Fance and Alyson Edwards from Change Grow Live St Helens, which works with adults, young people and families, added: “For us the partnership approach has been great as officers are better able to know how we can offer support and they can then bring people to us that need that help.
“Even the other week there was a woman who would better benefit from our support and because of the officers knowing how we help people they sent her to us for support and that’s avoided a problem and given her space to have the support she needs.
“The consistency is what is important, getting to put names to faces and seeing how as a town we are all working together to make it better an be there for anyone in need, police can fight crime and we can aid them in helping those who maybe need a change of direction and extra support.”
Meanehile, Julie Hand, project lead at Hope House, added: “It’s been amazing actually because a lot of our service users don’t like the police.
“But with this town centre team they aren’t just ‘police’ they are so and so and he’s alright so I’ll listen to him and they instead can build trust and respect and get support they need.
“It’s been brilliant and I think it’s exactly what St Helens has needed, that old fashioned policing where everyone knew everyone and people can be helped sooner.”
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Neighbourhood Policing Week is a chance to shine a spotlight on the invaluable work local police officers, PCSOs and Specials do, day in day out, to keep our communities safe.
“I know how much people value seeing officers on our streets, responding to reports, reassuring residents, and working together to tackle local issues and that is why one of my top priorities is providing a local police service that is accessible and visible to everyone.
“A wide range of activity is scheduled to take place throughout the week, and I look forward to seeing how Merseyside Police showcases this vital work.
"From the relentless pursuit of a suspect, to working with members of the public to piece together the details of a crime, to supporting and reassuring those affected and opening those lines of communication to prevent crime from happening in the first place.”
If you have information about crime or anti-social behaviour occurring anywhere in Merseyside, contact Merseyside Police’s social media desk on X @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’, or by reporting on the Merseyside Police website at: www.merseyside.police.uk You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: crimestoppers-uk.org
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