news story

5th November 2009

MP Goes Out on the Beat with Local Police

Steve Webb MP in discussion with PCSOs Paul Fortune and Katie Radnedge at Chipping Sodbury Police Station

Northavon MP Steve Webb last week took part in the Avon & Somerset Police 'ride- along' scheme to see for himself a typical Friday night shift in the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area. Under the scheme, local residents are given the chance to spend a shift with the local Police to get a feel for the range of issues that arise.

During the course of the Friday night shift the MP joined local constables and PCSOs as they toured areas of Yate and Chipping Sodbury that had been identified as policing priorities in the periodic 'safer, stronger communities' public meetings. They chatted to young people who had gathered in local parks and public areas and also kept an eye out for under-age drinking. Later in the shift, the MP switched from the 'neighbourhood policing team' to the 'response team' and observed as officers responded to a local 999 call.

Speaking after the shift, Steve Webb said:

"I am regularly in contact with the local Police on behalf of local residents, so it was good to be able to see them in action at first hand. I was encouraged that a lot of their work on a Friday evening seemed to be about prevention - going to areas where there had been past problems with under-age drinking or anti-social behaviour and trying to ensure that problems did not arise.

"I was also impressed to see that the Policing priorities identified by local residents at the local 'Safer Stronger Communities' meetings were clearly displayed at the local station and were acted on while I was on shift. I can't say that I envy the Police their job, especially those responding to tricky 999 calls in the middle of the night, but my time with local officers and PCSOs increased my understanding and respect for the work that they do on our behalf".