Half-a-dozen new 'Watchers' for Lancashire
Thursday, 05 April, 2012
LANCASHIRE Constabulary has welcomed aboard half-a-dozen new faces to help cement relations between crime-fighting volunteers and local police.
Six 'Watch Liaison Officers' will work with both police in Lancashire and voluntary watch schemes. There are numerous watches throughout the county including farm, business and school watches - perhaps the best known is neighbourhood watch.
Police in Lancashire do not run or organise the initiatives, but offer practical advice, help and resources when necessary with the Watch Liaison Officers playing a co-ordinating role.
Every geographical police division, of which there are six, will have a Watch Liaison Officer all of who have had significant professional experience in community relations or law and order.
Tony Ford will take up the new role in the Constabulary's 'Eastern Division' which runs through the Ribble Valley into Hyndburn and onto Blackburn with Darwen.
Tony, who was born and bred in east Lancashire, has over 36 years' worth of experience in policing and crime investigation.
He said: "Lancashire has recently enjoyed a long period of low crime figures but the message being sent out to residents is that we cannot become complacent.
"The once common offences of burglary and theft from vehicles have, to some degree, given way to more modern crimes, such as online fraud, but this does not mean that our homes and cars are no longer at risk.
"Neighbourhood Watch, besides creating strong community spirit, provides a defence system which should act as a deterrent to criminals which will help to keep our local communities safe."
Anyone wanting further information about the Watch Coordinators or who would like to set up a watch type scheme in their area, can contact police on 101.
