BROMSGROVE’S Safer Neighbourhood Team Inspector Gareth Keyte has invited residents to come out with the police and see the work the force does first hand.
Insp Keyte made the offer at the Rubery PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meeting on Monday where he took to the floor to listen to residents’ concerns and answer their questions.
He spoke about the importance of intelligence-led policing and said residents could be the eyes and ears on the ground and provide the information needed to help West Mercia officers crack down on crime and prevent incidents before they happened.
“There is often negativity about the police in the press and I would like to redress that.
“I always say before you criticise someone, come and walk a mile in their shoes.
“Everyone is welcome to join our officers on patrol, whether that be riding in a police car with our response officers or walking the beat.
“We will give you a realistic perspective into what we do.”
It followed a question about the West Mercia Police Special Constabulary and whether that arm of the force was still being utilised.
Insp Keyte said: “There are a variety of community voluntary roles in the police people can sign up for.
“We will always do the best we can with the resources we have got and we would like you to come and see what we do and be part of it if you want.”
As well as the Special Constabulary, there is also the police support volunteers, the Citizens’ Academy and the Police Cadets, which is for 16 to 18-year-olds.
Visit www.westmercia.police.uk and search for ‘Ride Around Scheme’ or call 101 for more on going out with the police.
Or go to www.westmercia.police.uk/get-involved to find out more about the variety of voluntary opportunities with the force.
