Meet the longer arm of the law

CRIME BUSTERS . . . Sgt Trevor Harrison, centre, the new police team, and police community volunteer Garth Sharpe, right, with NDC crime and community safety manager Anna Forster

Meet the neighbours . . . the new police team tackling community crime in Medlock Vale introduced themselves yesterday.

Extra funds mean there are now 10 neighbourhood officers — one sergeant, four PCs, five police community support officers, and a neighbourhood policing volunteer.

They are being paid for by Greater Manchester Police and the Fitton Hill and Hathershaw New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Trevor Harrison introduced them to the NDC’s manager for crime and community safety, Anna Forster at the NDC offices at Langham House in Ashton Road.

The expanded team is building on the success of the previous NDC police team, which has been operating in Hathershaw and Fitton Hill over the past five years.

It now covers the whole of the Medlock Vale and Alexandra wards, to sustain neighbourhood policing in the area when the NDC Programme finishes in 2011.

Sgt Harrison said: “Officers will work with the community to identify and tackle issues of crime and anti-social behaviour.

“Residents will also be invited to attend regular surgeries where they can share their concerns with officers and receive crime prevention advice. The launch of the expanded Neighbourhood Policing Team demonstrates our commitment to the neighbourhood peace and quiet agreement that has been in place since 2008.”

The Medlock Vale neighbourhood policing team can be contacted on 0161-856 8927 or oldhamwest.npt@gmp.police.uk 




Residents are invited to attend a community meeting at 6pm on Thursday, January 22 at the Honeywell Centre.