More police on your doorstep

RADICAL reforms to dramatically increase the number of police officers in Nantwich have been hailed as "the best thing to happen to the town in a great number of years".

Police chiefs have this week started the process of setting up the town's own neighbourhood policing unit in reforms to raise the profile of officers in the community.

The reforms will dramatically boost the number of officers based at Nantwich Police Station, with 19 constables, three sergeants, two community support officers and new commander Chris Brierley taking up positions in the town.

And one of Insp Brierley's first moves has been to look into extending the police station's opening hours.

He believes the county-wide reforms will be particularly beneficial for places like Nantwich and the surrounding villages.

He said: "For years there has been a feeling that Nantwich was policed from Crewe, although there were officers based in the town.

"These reforms are fantastic, and it will mean a much greater number of officers and a greater visibility of officers in the town.

"It's about local policing by local officers, because people want to be able to identify their local policeman.

"There will be a noticeable presence of bobbies in the town centre, which is what people want to see.

"In a town like Nantwich and in the villages, people want to know who their local police officers are, and this will give them a much better chance of that."

Insp Brierley will spend the next few weeks finetuning his team, which is expected to be fully operational by June.

Under the reforms, Nantwich will have its own neighbourhood unit for the first time as part of an Eastern police area.

It will have its own investigation team to tackle high volume crimes, and two community action teams to provide high-profile policing and look for long-term solutions to disorder.

New units and teams, to be launched this month, will support the neighbourhood outfit, including a public protection unit to handle child protection and domestic violence cases.

Insp Brierley has begun negotiations with other agencies to extend the opening hours at the police station, and is hoping for a decision in the next few weeks.

He said the station would be open from 9am to 5pm, on weekdays, over the next five weeks, and is confident that a permanent extension can be put in place.

Cllr Joyce Stockton said: "This is the best thing to happen to the town in a great number of years.

"I'm extremely pleased about the reforms and I welcome them with open arms.

"This is something that is vital to Nantwich, because the fear of crime is often greater than crime itself.

"People want to get to know their officer, and this will allow that.

"It's absolutely fantastic for the town, and I wish the new officers every success."

amorrison@guardiangrp.co.uk