Resident Barry goes out on patrol

On the beat . . . Barry Deville joins PCSO Donna Wheeler on patrol in Royton

A ROYTON resident went on patrol with the police to see first hand the kind of problems they face on a daily basis.

Barry Deville joined PCSO Donna Wheeler, from the Royton and Shaw Neighbourhood Policing Team in Royton North, to see what is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area. PCSO Wheeler said: “Mr Deville comes along to our community meetings and is a very proactive member of the Royton community.

“Inviting Mr Deville out on patrol created a unique opportunity for him to see first hand the work we are doing to make the neighbourhood safer and give him a snapshot of the day-to-day issues we deal with.”

During the four-hour patrol, Mr Deville watched as PCSO Wheeler:

::Spoke with a group of young people in Royton Precinct, confiscating alcohol and warning them about the consequences of their behaviour.

::Highlighted graffiti damage in Royton Park and the work being done identify the offenders and arrange for the graffiti to be removed.

::Visited a family having problems with youths causing annoyance at the back of their house in Rochdale Road. A group of youths were spoken to and asked to clean up their litter, before moving on.

::Patrolled the Lindale Avenue area, where anti-social behaviour is a priority concern for residents. PCSO Wheeler said: “To help tackle this issue, trees, previously used as a place of shelter by the youths, have now been cut back, resulting in a drop in incidents.

“Thorny bushes have also been planted at the rear of the houses to stop young people gaining access to the garage roof. Residents have also set up a Home Watch scheme to keep a watchful eye on the community and ensure all incidents are reported to us.”

Mr Deville said: “I am very passionate about my community and like to be kept informed about what’s being done to make it a safer, better place to live.

“I am grateful to PCSO Wheeler for inviting me on patrol. It was a unique experience and allowed me to witness the good work that the local police are doing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

“It also opened my eyes to the challenges they face and how vital the support of the community is in helping police overcome those challenges.”

Insp Karen Taylor said: “As part of our commitment to delivering the Policing Pledge we encourage residents to tell us their concerns so we can ensure we are tackling the issues that matter most to our communities.

“By inviting local residents to join us out and about in the community, we can show them first hand what we are doing to keep them safe.”