Police step up beat patrols

BOBBIES on the beat will be hitting a street near you thanks to a step up in neighbourhood policing.

Officers in Oldham West, Oldham East, Failsworth, Hollinwood, Royton, Shaw, Chadderton, Saddleworth and Lees will host a fortnight of activities during a hard-hitting awareness campaign which started this week.

Nationally, policing has gone through a massive restructure including more officers pounding the streets to work alongside the communities they are serving.

Greater Manchester Police is committed to neighbourhood policing and through work with partner agencies such as the council, local housing associations and community groups, the force is hoping to improve local neighbourhoods by addressing issues that really matter.

Chief Supt Caroline Ball, of Oldham police, said: “Neighbourhood policing provides a dedicated service that puts officers right at the heart of communities, responding to local concerns and making neighbourhoods safer places to live.

“Part of this involves reassuring communities by carrying out regular high-visibility patrols, but it is also important for people to know who their local officers are and how to contact them.”

A feel-good advertising campaign hit TV screens this week in a bid to raise awareness of neighbourhood policing teams.

The 40-second commercials focus on the role officers play in the community and their efforts to tackle local problems.

Cards displaying contact details for each of the six teams are available at police station receptions and a range of community venues.

To contact your local neighbourhood policing team, visit www.gmp.police.org for details for each team on the newly launched neighbourhood policing pages.