Changes in Local Policing in Northamptonshire

What is happening?

It has been recognised by the Police that local policing has suffered with the cutbacks in the police numbers that have occurred over the past 10 years. As part of a restructuring of local policing in North Northants and West Northants, the Police together with NCALC have developed a new model to help improve this service to town councils and parishes in the counties.

Most parishes and towns have engaged with this new programme and on 22 April the first online meeting of the Police Liaison Representatives (PLR) took place with over PLRs in attendance. There are now 150 PLRs in place and the project has started. Their roles will be described below.

There is a lot of investment in this programme and an expansion of the police force in this role. There will be 50 new police constables being recruited to boost the numbers of constables and PCSOs in the 2 counties which will be at 180 staff. With plans to increase the numbers even further.

A Chief Superintendent oversees this operation (Ch Supt Ash Tuckley), and the PLRs are organised by NCALC. The two counties have been divided into 8 sectors and there are 34 local policing areas in total within these 8 sectors. Each area will have a dedicated police officer/PCSO and will be the single point of contact for each town or parish.

Crime recording and reporting has also been changed and a new database on these 34 local policing areas is currently coming into place. This will make searching for statistics on your local area much easier in the future.

It is worth noting that this is a unique project and we are in fact trailblazers in this new type of policing.

Police Liaison Representatives (PLR)

Parishes and towns were asked to select a person to act as its PLR. Cllr David Fuller is Oundle Town's PLR. The main aims of the PLRs is to:

• To be a known face within the town as the PLR.
• Improve communications between the police and council/town.
• To have direct access to police and the Police and Crime Commissioner
• Improve on the effectiveness of these communications.
• Become the point of contact for residents to report issues in the knowledge that these will be communicated to the police and a response considered.
• Develop a good working relationship with our local police representatives.
• Help provide local intelligence to the police as people within the town report incidents or suspicious activities. If they are unable to report directly to the police.
• Introduce the Neighbourhood Watch teams and work with them where they exist.
• Liaise with local smaller parishes to help with intelligence and reporting suspicious activity.

Our local police representatives

Oundle Town has two PCSOs as our local police representatives. They are as follows:

Artur.pereira@northants.pnn.police.uk

Timothy.Butter@northants.pnn.police.uk

Their email addresses are included so you can get in touch with them directly if you need to.

In future this team will be expanded with police constables included.

We will keep you informed of developments in this area and also opportunities to meet with them and discuss issues that you may be concerned with in your part of the town.

Part of the Police Local Plan

Ch Supt Tuckley outlined several of his local plans to give an idea of what the police want to do with this new strategy.

• Become more proactive in local crime fighting. With our area East Northants North
• If you look at the map of the area, this is a rural area only. Covering up to south of Stamford, Wansford, Brigstock, Oundle and Thrapston. There are no large towns included.
• Form a local long-term partnership with parishes and towns in this area.
• Problem solving – recruiting and training will be providing officers with a higher-level pf problem solving. This will lead to more nuanced and intelligent approach to crime fighting and solving.
• Place based policing – recognise the importance in keeping the same people in the same place to develop long term relationships with the parish or town. Once our constables or PCSOs are in place they will stay there for a long time.

Rural Crime Team

This is a central team that will remain in place. It is there as it allows cross border cooperation between North Northants and West Northants.

NCALC

Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils. A not-for-profit membership organisation, representing, training and advising parish councils of Northamptonshire.

They have setup the PLRs and will run the group as well as direct the strategy working closely with the Police.