Page 6 - link magazine

6 The Link Magazine • July 2003
Police sectors proving successful as new stations open in West and North

The June 2002 Link featured the switch by Swindon Police from community policing to sector policing, six months after it was introduced
in January 2002. Here we get an update on the set up.
Under the old operations And a major investment in new do more to stop. In North Sector,
systempoliceof ® in Swin- technology is going to keep offic- covering Gorse Hill, Penhill,
ficer beats coin- don, Su- ers in the field in closer contact Haydon Wick! Greenmeadow and
cided with coun- perintend- with supervisors. Before the end the new houses in North Swindon,
cil electoral ent Wayne of this calendar year the way crime from April 2002 to March 2003,
ward bounda- B o n n e is recorded will change and po- there was a twenty per cent in-
ries which says sector licemen and women will be able to crease in vehicle break-ins (678). A
meant specific ; policing is phone in directly from the scene of recent campaign to raise aware-
officers were - provine a a crime for the information they ness by sending letters to drivers
need immediately. telling them they could avoid crime
Within about 12 months they if only they hid belongings on dis-
will be able to get this from com- play in their vehicles, and also in-
puters fitted into police cars and telligence work to catch opportun-
eventually from hand held com- ist criminals, has reduced the
puters. number of offences for the time
"There has been criticism that being.
however, with crime rate officers are burdened by paper- By contrast, vehicle crime in the
shift patterns, leave and special compared with other parts of the work which distracts them from West Sector during the same pe-
duties, the officers were sometimes country and the force is in the top tackling crime, but the government riod fell by twelve per cent (420).
absent from their patch for long five of the 43 in England and Wales initiatives to cut back bureaucracy As always the only effective
periods. And with under staffing, in terms of performance related to is starting to come through," said method of reducing crime is to
some areas often did not have the crimes reported and cleared up. Superintendent Bonne. "We build a better partnership between
benefit of a named officer. But we are constantly looking for closely analyse where officers the police and the public accord-
Now the town is split into five ways to improve efficiency and to spend their time and at present 53 ing to Superintendent Bonne. "It is
sectors, each with between 15 and bear down on criminal activity, per cent is spent on patrol. Using not possible for the police to keep
20 officers covering the shifts dur- and the potential for crime." technology to improve the flow of crime under control on their own.
ing the 18 core hours when there is The move to sector policing was information and better manage- The public have a big responsibil-
most demand. The teams are a first step in reorganisation. The ment of resources, our aim over ity in helping us use our time effec-
backed up by a 24 hour response opening of sub-police stations in the next few years is to increase tively by passing on information
team to deal with 999 calls and West and North Swindon to pro- this figure to 60 per cent on patrol, about anything suspicious in their
other emergencies, as well as spe- vide local points of contact for the making the police more visible to community and by keeping their
cialist units such as the helicopter. public and the awarding of plan- the public." homes safe by improving locks on
Eighteen months after the new ning permission for a new HQ to He added that the sector teams doors and windows, turning on
system was introduced, head of the east of the town is another stage. are also concerned to boost crime the alarm if there is one installed,
prevention. Vehicle crime is a con- and ensuring garden sheds are kept
stant problem which drivers could secure."
Police points open in North and West

Whether you are looking for a new style, cut or
colour call in for a , . consultation with a
member of our highly qualified team or phone
874825 to book an appointment

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Chief Constable of Wiltshire Dame Elizabeth Neville opened two new commu-
nity based police points at the West and North Swindon District Centres on
20 June with Bertie Woolnough, head of the Wiltshire Police Authority, and
Swindon Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Patrick Stayte.
The stations will serve as local con tact points for sector police staff and provide
a local rest area for ambulance service paramedics awaiting a call out.
Open: Tuesday & Wednesday: 9am-6pm;
Public enquiry office opening times:
Thursday & Friday: 9am-7pm; Saturday: 8.30am - 3.30pm West Swindon, Link Avenue, West Swindon Centre
Special discounts for senior citizens Tuesdays & Wednesdays Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday 12noon to 2pm
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4pm to 6pm
Unit 3, Ramleaze House, Shaw Village Centre
North Swindon Swindon Centre
Tel: 874825 Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday gam to 11am
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 7pm to 9pm