CHESHIRE Police have taken a step to having a named officer in each community, with the force set to rollout community bases across each policing area.
The constabulary is broken up into six local policing units and smaller local policing teams, with each team to be allocated a venue where PCSOs can base themselves on a day-to-day basis.
The ‘book-on’ bases include village halls and community centres, and are part of Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane’s Police and Crime Plan. The scheme would not cost Cheshire Police anything in terms of rent.
Listed at the Joint Management Board meeting from April 10, the agenda read: “The rationale for the decision was that the decision supports the priorities of the Police & Crime Plan 2016-21 for Cheshire to have a police service better connected to its communities and one which is fit for the future.
“The recommendations approved are intended to enhance and improve the quality of service the public receive from PCSOs around visibility, engagement and problem solving.”
The Crewe and Nantwich local policing teams are split into electoral wards. See the bottom of this article for a list of the proposed community hubs.
David Keane, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, said: “Every Cheshire community will soon have its own police base, providing an accessible contact point for local residents to meet with their local PCSO.
“PCSOs are an important part of local policing teams across Cheshire. They are the ‘eyes and ears’ of local communities, gathering intelligence to deal with complex police issues, whilst providing support to vulnerable residents, and focusing on making our roads safer.
“These bases will provide the facilities for PCSOs to spend more time in the heart of the community they serve, increasing interaction with local residents and allowing them to have more visibility in our communities. Under the previous model, some PCSOs were travelling miles each day to the community they were based in, wasting valuable time.
“When I was elected I promised the residents of Cheshire ‘more feet on the beat’. Providing every community in Cheshire with their own named, recognisable community officer is helping us achieve this vision.”
Full list of Crewe and Nantwich community bases
Crewe South – BELONG Care Home, 20 Brookhouse Drive, Crewe. CW2 6NA
Shavington & Willaston and Rope – Shavington cum Gresty Village Hall, 159 Main Rd, Shavington, Crewe CW2 5DP
Wistaston – Wistaston Memorial Hall, 75 Church Lane, Crewe CW2 8EZ
Crewe Central – Crewe Library, Crewe Lifestyle Centre, 17 Moss Square, Crewe CW1 2BB
Crewe St Barnabas – Beechmere Retirement Village, Rolls Ave, Crewe CW1 3FT
Crewe West – South Cheshire College, Dane Bank Ave, Crewe CW2 8AB
Crewe East – North Street Café, North Street, Crewe CW1 4NJ
Haslington – Yoxhall Village Hall, 64 Crewe Rd, Haslington, Crewe CW1 5QZ
Audlem & Wybunbury – Audlem Public Hall, 12 Cheshire St, Audlem, Crewe CW3 0AH
Bunbury & Wrenbury – Reaseheath College, Nantwich CW5 6DF
Nantwich North and West – Nantwich Police Station, Beam St, Nantwich CW5 5NE
Nantwich South and Stapeley – Stapeley Community Hall, Pear Tree Field, Nantwich CW5 7GE
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here