New police team getting to know you and your concerns

A new, six-strong policing team is now working in the north of the town, reflecting the Home Office's wish to have "identifiable, localised" police in each ward by 2008.

"We are ahead of the game in doing that," said Sgt Peter Allan, leader of the team which took to the streets for the first time last week.

He is joined in the task by PC Wendy Rhodes, police community support officers (PCSOs) Bob Purcell, Rob Gillan and Margaret Walker, and another constable who will be starting shortly.

Sgt Allan sees the main focus of the team as being "visible and accessible".

"We have to get out there in the community, to let people know who we are, and that we are there to help them. It is all about getting closer to the people."

Apart from the team members' faces becoming more familiar on the streets, an early opportunity to meet people and listen to their concerns will be provided by a neighbourhood forum planned at Littlehampton Police Station on Wednesday, February 22, at 6.30pm.

It's hoped that as many people as possible from the Wick, Toddington and Ham area will attend.

"The approach is to say: 'This is us, we are willing to be involved with you, what would you like to see being done?', rather than telling people what they should be doing.

"It's about everyone working together to make this a better place," said Sgt Allan.

As well as working with the public, Sgt Allan said he was looking forward to working closely with other organisations already committed to improving the area, such as the Keystone Centre, (Boys' Club), the WIRE Project, the town council's Project 82 youth centre and groups at the Wickbourne Centre, as well as the NHS, schools and council departments.

He has been particularly impressed with the youth work in the area and the high number of committed professional and volunteer leaders, and sees this as an area where his team members can become more involved, perhaps enjoying a game of pool or table tennis, so that young people "see that the police are human", in more relaxed, non-threatening situations.

Another of Sgt Allan's aims is the ambitious one of doubling the number of homes in neighbourhood watch groups in the area. At present that figure stands at just over 1,000 properties, in 40 groups.

Neighbourhood watch schemes, he feels, provide a key link in the communication between police and public, giving an opportunity to pass on information about, for example, old people being conned in their homes by bogus callers, or suspicious cars spotted near to schools.

"It's more than just people twitching curtains or 'snitching', it's about everyone playing their part in making the community a safer place to live."

Neighbourhood watch, he pointed out, didn't involve a major commitment of time or effort '“ "it could be as little as distributing 20 newsletters a month, but it all contributed to community cohesion and spirit".

The team will provide a police presence from 7am to midnight most days, but will cover into the early hours of the morning on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And on top of this, additional support is provided by response officers based at Littlehampton, in the event of emergencies.

Originally from north Yorkshire, Sgt Allan has been in the Sussex Police for 16 years, the past six of them based at Littlehampton.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of working in Ham, Wick and Toddington," he said. "Getting the community to be engaged is a big issue, and it may not happen overnight, but if people can see tangible improvements, like graffiti being removed, and abandoned cars taken away, then they will hopefully see that there are real benefits from working together.

"I plan to be out there a lot on the streets myself, and I will feel disappointed if, in two or three months' time, people are saying that they don't see us around and don't know who we are."