We join bobby on the beat in trouble-spot (From Swindon Advertiser)

We join bobby on the beat in trouble-spot

9:50am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in News

PC Tim North

A FAMILIAR face on the streets of Old Town, PC Tim North is anything but a modern-day bobby who never goes on the beat.

The long-serving officer was greeted by waves and smiles as he walked through the area with the Adver yesterday.

The community beat manager for Lawn and Old Town, who spends up to eight hours a shift on foot patrol, says getting out and about helps to gather information which would otherwise go unreported. PC North, who has worked in Swindon for 27 years, said: “If you walk down Wood Street, how many people remember seeing you?

“Even if I spent a couple of hours in a quiet residential street doing nothing but foot patrol, someone could still come home the next day and say they never see the police.

“The process after someone has been arrested has become more streamlined over the last couple of years and it is quicker to get in and get back out on patrol.

“I have been in Old Town quite a while and the best part about going out on patrol is the people.

“They do recognise you and will mention things in passing that they would not have otherwise phoned up to report. The other thing about being out and about is that you get to know the back alleys, which is important when you consider you can get to pretty near West Swindon from the Croft area without having to go on a road.

“The public also like patrols because they provide reassurance, though it is hard to quantify how much crime they actually prevent.”

One of PC North’s first stops of the day was Swindon Council offices to deliver evidence relating to a noise complaint at a pub which is now closed.

Other regular duties include checking on parking outside schools and visiting people in sheltered accommodation, which often works better than large meetings as residents are more willing to chat. By night there is the area of bars, clubs and restaurants around Wood Street, which officers police on a rotation basis at weekends.

Last month, PC North’s team tackled a spate of windows being smashed in Lawn. The problem stopped after visits were made to the homes of local youths suspected of being involved.

PC North, who has covered the beat for eight years, said: “You would want a builder to turn up with every tool to do the job, rather than just a hammer and chisel, which is a bit like policing. The size of the area we cover means we could not rely on foot patrols alone. You need police officers, PCSOs, vehicle patrols and CCTV.”

The Adver reported earlier this month how the Wood Street area was identified as the biggest trouble-spot in the south of Swindon.

The bulk of the problems were anti-social behaviour, violent crime and criminal damage. But PC North, who is backed up by three support officers, said: “The figures say that crime is falling. Swindon is not a high-crime area. With anti-social behaviour a lot of it is about perception.

“You can’t please all the people all the time, but we can do what we can, and a little bit more.”

To report a crime call the police 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.