IT S all change as a new chief inspector has taken on the role for the area. Chief Insp Geoff Camp, 35, who was previously inspector for Royston, Letchworth and Baldock, has been promoted. He said: I look forward to my new role, listening to the people a

IT'S all change as a new chief inspector has taken on the role for the area.

Chief Insp Geoff Camp, 35, who was previously inspector for Royston, Letchworth and Baldock, has been promoted.

He said: "I look forward to my new role, listening to the people and continuing to help deliver high visibility policing to the communities we serve."

Chief Insp Camp, who is married and has two children, was born and raised in Baldock and has served with Herts police for 14 years.

He said: "I know the North Herts area extremely well. I'm a local person so I genuinely want to reduce crime in the area."

His responsibilities will include overall supervision of policing in North Herts, which will include Royston.

He said: "My main priorities are to improve the quality of life for people in the north of the county, embedding the safer neighbourhoods scheme and policing criminal damage and anti-social behaviour."

Crime in North Herts saw a decrease last year and has fallen by 16 per cent so far this year. Only criminal damage was up slightly, which Chief Insp Camp aims to tackle.

Chief Insp Camp will also be responsible for the new neighbourhood policing scheme in the eastern area.

He said: "The neighbourhood policing is a big concept with the Government at the moment.

"North Herts remains a safe place to live and crime being down shows it is clear the chances of being a victim of crime here are remote."

By 2008, every area must be covered by a neighbourhood policing team and any member of the public should be able to find out who the named contact is for their area.

Panels for the scheme have been introduced in the Royston area and are made up of key people from the community who help to decide what officers should be looking at.

The panel, including councillors, neighbourhood watch representatives, teachers, and members of the public, will listen to what the local people want.

Current matters for attention include reducing incidents of nuisance motor cycling, and 4x4 use and supplying uncorrupt data of the true speed of vehicles travelling on a number of roads around the area.

Meetings will take place every two-three months where teams will pull together their knowledge and say what they would like their constable to concentrate on.

The new inspector for Royston, Letchworth and Baldock will be Jason Thorne.