The ‘village bobby on the beat’ is back

‘Parish Special Constables’ are working alongside community ‘Watch’ members in Bedfordshire towns and villages as part of a new crime-prevention initiative.

Heralded as the return of the ‘village bobby on the beat’, redesigned for 2016 circumstances, the Parish Special Constables will help with the enforcement of speed offences, home burglary surveys and community engagement.

They were unveiled last month as part of Operation Salcoats, an integrated crime-prevention and community reassurance initiative, bringing together the voluntary element of policing and community Watch scheme volunteers.

Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner (PCC) Olly Martins explained: “Although the long-standing and chronic under-funding of our police means that the ‘thin blue line’ is stretched very thin across the county, I am committed to doing everything possible to ensure there is a community policing footprint in each area supporting the strongest possible partnership between the public and their police.

“Over the past few months, I have been attending parish council meetings across Bedfordshire to highlight the policing challenges facing Bedfordshire Police and to promote the role communities can play working alongside the force to keep our country safe.

“In response to the feedback of residents and members of parish councils, I have worked with the force to establish Operation Salcoats.”

He said this will see the innovative use of Bedfordshire Police volunteers and members of all ‘Watch’ schemes coming together to work with Special Constables across the county.

Bedfordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Mark Collins said the force was “committed to serving rural areas and Operation Salcoats enhances that by introducing dedicated community Special Constables with a particular remit to liaise and work even more closely with ­parish councils and local Watch schemes”.

“Partnership and problem-solving work like this supports the vision of the chief constable and PCC to protect people and fight crime together,” he added.