Police Update for May from WPc Sandy Craske

A full report from Sandy, along with an update on neighbourhood policing, is available on the Parish Council web site. Sandy is finally back in Twyford Police Station after the recent refurbishment.

We now have a PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) called George who will be working out of Twyford station. At present he is being tutored by Pc Loudwell and if all goes according to plan he will be out on his own by the end of the month.

The PCSO role is to provide a uniformed, official presence in public places. The PCSO is funded jointly by the Local Authority and the Police Authority but is employed by the Police Authority. A PCSO is able to seize alcohol in designated areas and confiscate alcohol and tobacco from young persons, can demand the names and addresses of persons acting in an anti-social manner, and issue certain fixed penalty tickets. All PCSO’s are designated as traffic wardens but at this time they have not been granted any special powers of detention. George is expected to spend 80% of his time out on the streets and to engage with the public to provide a high visibility patrol to reduce crime, reassure the community and to tackle anti-social behaviour. Please welcome George to Hurst when you see him in the village.

Meanwhile Sandy continues to stage speed checks in the Village and also checks on vehicles using “Access Only” routes through the Village. You have been warned!

Community Officer of the Year 2005

Parish Councillor Paul Martin has written to Hurst Village Society urging local residents to nominate WPC Sandy Craske for Community Officer of the Year 2005.

Read his letter in full.