Community safety partners have thanked Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews for his support after he funded a new dedicated vehicle to connect police and safety officers with the people they serve.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC allocated more than £17,000 from his budget to Harborough District Community Safety Partnership towards a new community safety van.
Based at Harborough District Council, the new van will also allow police officers to host beat surgeries in locations which do not have a village hall and will enhance the work of the community safety team as they patrol anti-social behaviour hotspots to increase visibility and increase accessibility to officers.
The van, kitted out with a table and chairs, will provide a warm and comfortable space for residents to meet police officers and talk over their concerns, especially those living in rural areas of the force area.
Other uses include promotional and campaign work throughout the seasons, school and rural roadshows, joint events with emergency services colleagues and health and wellbeing partners and drug and alcohol awareness events.
Cllr Darren Woodiwiss, Harborough District Council's portfolio holder for Community Safety Partnerships, said: "This is a welcome community resource, and we are grateful to the Commissioner for his funding and support with this project.
"The Community Safety Partnership vehicle will support the efforts of a whole host of safety organisations and partners working together to prevent crime and reduce harm across the Harborough district. With the benefit of mobile meeting space, police officers will be able to spend more time getting to know local people and understanding their concerns. They will also be able to reach many of the smaller, more remote villages and communities, ensuring our rural residents feel listened to and supported."
Mr Matthews added: "The van is another way in which we are able to improve both police visibility in rural areas and communications with local residents, both of which are key priorities for me. Harborough is the largest district in Leicestershire, encompassing more than 90 villages and covering some 230 square miles. Many of these neighbourhoods are rural and do not all have village halls or suitable buildings to host beat surgeries or police events.
"The new community safety van will be a vital resource for the district, boosting opportunities for people to meet their local officers and raise any important issues they have. It will also support officers and safety partners as they deliver visible policing patrols to tackle anti-social behaviour and other public priorities.
"This project fulfils one of my important Police and Crime Plan priorities; to help the police work more proactively and visibly within our communities to increase support for rural residents and prevent crime. Giving our rural communities a stronger voice is a vital part of my work and this is just one of the many ways I aim to connect local officers and safety partners with residents to build trust and confidence in our services."
