Safe and sound with Neighbourhoods team

MEET the Royston Safer Neighbourhoods team who are working together with residents, businesses and organisations to tackle issues in the community. The team at the police station, in Melbourn Street, are there to help promote safety in the town, to invest

MEET the Royston Safer Neighbourhoods team who are working together with residents, businesses and organisations to tackle issues in the community.

The team at the police station, in Melbourn Street, are there to help promote safety in the town, to investigate incidents of anti-social behaviour, and to help solve long-term issues.

There are police community support officers and police officers working from the police station 24 hours a day.

Pc Nic Musto is the ward constable for Royston. He has been in the force for 14 years and has spent the last 11 years in Royston.

Pc Musto said: "I know the area very well and know a lot of people here."

The ward constable is a direct link or 'face' to the public.

Pc Paul Marina is the ward constable for the rural areas. He has been in the police force for 25 years and was born and raised in the area.

Pc Neil Lasenby is the problem solver at the town's police station.

Pc Lasenby has been in the

police force for 19 years and has spent the last five in Royston.

The problem solver looks at issues in the town and tries to sort them out by using the help of other agencies such as the council and local housing associations.

There are five police community support officers at Royston Police Station.

They are Tracy Kennedy, Penny Tomsett, Chris Brabrook, Allan Kelly, and Alanna Robinson.

PSCO Penny Tomsett said: "I have been a PCSO for five years and have spent the last 21 months in Royston.

"PCSOs are a visible presence on the streets of Royston.

"The role includes helping to tackle anti-social behaviour, providing public reassurance, and assisting with the prevention of crime and disorder within the community.

"I gather intelligence from the community as I go about my patrols, which often proves to be invaluable in helping to reduce crime in the town."

The team also holds a neighbourhood panel with residents every four months, which informs police of the concerns of the local community.

A list of priorities are set out that should be addressed in the coming months.

Safer Neighbourhoods allows people to have a say in deciding what issues the police and their partners will tackle and encourages them to get involved.

Hertfordshire Assistant Chief Constable Steve Devine said: "We made a commitment in 2007 to make Hertfordshire one of the first police forces to embrace neighbourhood policing, and ensure that we help our communities to access their local teams."

The ultimate aim is to help make people feel safer in a county which already has low crime rates, as well as to reduce crime and disorder in every neighbourhood in Hertfordshire.

You can see the new-look Safer Neighbourhoods website which brings residents even closer to the officers who police their local area at www.herts.police.uk and click on Safer Neighbourhoods.

To contact one of the Royston Safer Neighbourhoods team call 01438 757966.