Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs)

There has been a reorganisation of Maldon Policing, with the creation of Neighbourhood Policing Teams. This is to restore the familiar face in policing local issues. There are 6 NPTs, each with a point of contact for discussing issues.

If we need the police in a hurry, we should use the conventional contact method, ie 999

Great Totham NPT is based in Tolleshunt D’Arcy under PS Lee Parish. There will be six in the team, covering a rural area from Tollesbury to Althorne. Each officer will have a special interest in one segment of the area. For us in Great Totham this is PC Andy Bagley.

The emphasis in NPT is on team. When each officer is on duty they will respond to any problems needing immediate attention in the whole area, as well as focusing on their own beat.
This means we will have a more visible police presence, and it will be someone we can get to know, giving us continuity if we have a problem. We all know how helpful it has been to have PCSO Heather Owen as a familiar face. Heather will still be covering her five parishes. PC Bagley will soon become as familiar a face in the Great Totham area.

Each of the NPTs has a Specific Point of Contact (SPOC) For us, this is PC Eddy Edwards. He has always been willing to answer his mobile, even when off duty. This mobile will now be carried by whoever’s on duty.

Mobile no. 07710 046 156

What’s this number for? It’s for when you need to talk to an officer about a local issue. It is not for summoning that officer to your door immediately. It is not for replacing 999 calls.

On the subject of 999 calls, it seems we’re still reluctant to contact the police using 999 even something that requires immediate attention. There was a situation recently where a member of the public saw a suspicious person but didn’t dial 999. By the time the information had reached the police, 5 hours had elapsed, reducing the chances of the police finding this person

The Maldon District is a very safe place, 7.9 crimes a day, which is low, but if you are one of the unlucky people to be a victim, it’s still very upsetting. The low crime rate makes us all too complacent, leaving back doors and windows open, cars unlocked, and handbags temptingly open or unguarded in shopping trolleys while we look on the shelves. And our old folk just don’t imagine that a bogus caller will call on them. But lately we’ve had those sorts of crimes in the area, and need to be more aware of purse dipping, bogus callers, and home security measures.

Graffiti. Please report all graffiti to the police before cleaning it off, because the police want to photograph it for evidence. The perpetrators have certain characteristic styles and tags which make a conviction easier with photos.

Snippets

PC Bagley is looking forward to being out and about as much as possible, getting to know the beat and the people in the area.

PC Bagley emphasizes that crime, however trivial seeming, should be reported so that manpower and resources can be targeted appropriately. The police can’t act if they don’t know something has happened. Crimes like criminal damage often go unreported.

We’ve got to report it if we want them to sort it.      
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