A new beginning

I’m excited to have taken up the post of Inspector in the Norwich City Centre Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT). It’s a busy patch and a busy team and I know it will be challenging and rewarding.

I return to my roots in a way, as I worked as a PC in the city at Bethel Street at the start of my policing career.

I have also worked as a Sgt at Thetford in both response and neighbourhood policing roles and, more recently at police headquarters in Wymondham.

My last role was as an SNT Inspector in another part of the city (Lakenham and Tuckswood) which should stand me in good stead for this post - and now I have the added responsibility of leading policing in Norfolk’s largest and busiest urban area.

The city boasts a thriving retail sector with diverse shops and a renowned market place. This, coupled with a busy night-time economy which peaks every Friday and Saturday night, means that I will be working hard to make sure that crime related to these areas – shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and drink-fuelled violent crime - is tackled proactively and in partnership with other local agencies and local businesses.

We will not think twice about targeting persistent offenders or potential trouble-makers because, frankly, they’re not welcome in our city. Vulnerable locations and people who have suffered as a result of crime will also get specific care and attention.

Our drive is, of course, to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and to bring offenders to justice. It is also to ensure people are confident in the police by providing a quick, effective and professional service using skilled officers who can adapt to the many challenges they face.

My Safer Neighbourhood Team will be working closely with their colleagues in response policing, CID and other specialist units, to meet these objectives and be working every day in the community, to identify and address any problems.

I’ll provide a monthly update on this blog – talking about the areas I am looking to focus our efforts on and why; ensuring that you have access to some of the initiatives that my team and I are prioritising, developing and driving forward. I look forward to updating you again.