The new Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner has praised volunteers for the role they play in making the county a safer place, as he attended a Watch Scheme event yesterday evening (Wednesday).
The conference, at the Rufus Centre in Flitwick, saw volunteers from Watch Schemes such as Speed Watch, Street Watch and Dog Watch come together to hear updates about the different initiatives and meet both the PCC and local community policing teams.
Watch volunteers and community policing teams had the opportunity to talk about local ideas, issues and concerns and share their experiences.
The idea behind the Watch schemes is to enlist the support of local residents to help the police by taking an active role in reporting things like antisocial behaviour, vandalism or speeding.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner I will champion the interest of residents and the community across the county.
“Our shared aim is to ensure that Bedfordshire is a safe county to live and work in and to visit.
“I believe our watch scheme volunteers are instrumental in helping to do just that.
“Volunteering has an important role to play in supporting the police and protecting our communities.
“Whilst volunteers are not a replacement for employed police officers and other police staff, I am keen to explore how they could play an even bigger role.
“I’d like to say a very big ‘thank you’ to everyone who makes our Watch schemes what they are; and for their service.”
Chief Inspector Jim Goldsmith who leads community policing in the central area of Bedfordshire, told volunteers about the recently launched ‘Beds Connected’, a free tool for residents to stay up to date with what is happening in their area.
The volunteers also heard from the Roads Safety and Cyber Crime teams.
A volunteer that attended the event said “It’s always interesting to hear updates from all the different teams.
“I really value attending these events and being able to network with Bedfordshire Police officers and staff. I especially valued the roads safety project update, being a member of speed watch and I was impressed to see the collaborated work together to help make Bedfordshire safe”.
Juliet Wright, Watch Scheme Coordinator from Bedfordshire Police said: “Watch schemes are a great way to give back to the community and meet new people.
“It’s a real privilege to work with the volunteers.
“Their passion and dedication never ceases to amaze me, they work so hard to keep their communities safe.
“They help deter criminal activity, feed information into officers and the council, whilst providing a visible presence in the community. Thank you so much to all of you”.
For more information about the volunteer schemes in Bedfordshire visit the force’s website or email WatchSchemes@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk