Some may have doubted whether placing one permanent bobby on the beat in the Bridge area would make any real impact.
But with reported crime down by a quarter in just six months since the arrival of PC Karl Addis, the move seems to be working well.
Most heartening is news that the ‘high-visibility’ approach has seen assaults on islanders, both adults and children, drop dramatically. This has been coupled with a drop in criminal damage.
A mountain of work with the community and local agencies has clearly been taking place behind the scenes – from talking to youngsters and schools, to listening to shopkeepers and residents.
Some good old-fashioned policing has also gone on, for example taking youngsters caught with alcohol home to see their parents.
Back to basics is paying off. But no one should doubt that reducing crime and antisocial behaviour is anything but a long-term project.
What has been demonstrated to doubters in the island is that a joint and concerted effort such as this can really pay off.
The other positive news is that the improvements are not only welcome dividends for those residents and families living and working in and around the Bridge.
Cleaner and more trouble-free streets and shopping areas are good news for everyone using the vicinity and its facilities – including the much-improved Delancey Park.
Yet what happens over the next six months will be key.
The success will be helped by the proposed summer opening of the new Youth House.
Together with North Youth Centre manager Clive De La Haye, much work has already been done to provide a meeting point for young people.
Building relationships with them is what it has all been about, so maintaining this is crucial.
As well as the police initiative, local businesses and fundraisers have stumped up facilities, time, money and materials to help get the project off the ground.
Given its success, it is time to consider rolling the scheme out to other parts of the island.
Learning lessons from Bridge bobby
Credit where it’s due.
Some may have doubted whether placing one permanent bobby on the beat in the Bridge area would make any real impact.
But with reported crime down by a quarter in just six months since the arrival of PC Karl Addis, the move seems to be working well.
Most heartening is news that the ‘high-visibility’ approach has seen assaults on islanders, both adults and children, drop dramatically. This has been coupled with a drop in criminal damage.
A mountain of work with the community and local agencies has clearly been taking place behind the scenes – from talking to youngsters and schools, to listening to shopkeepers and residents.
Some good old-fashioned policing has also gone on, for example taking youngsters caught with alcohol home to see their parents.
Back to basics is paying off. But no one should doubt that reducing crime and antisocial behaviour is anything but a long-term project.
What has been demonstrated to doubters in the island is that a joint and concerted effort such as this can really pay off.
The other positive news is that the improvements are not only welcome dividends for those residents and families living and working in and around the Bridge.
Cleaner and more trouble-free streets and shopping areas are good news for everyone using the vicinity and its facilities – including the much-improved Delancey Park.
Yet what happens over the next six months will be key.
The success will be helped by the proposed summer opening of the new Youth House.
Together with North Youth Centre manager Clive De La Haye, much work has already been done to provide a meeting point for young people.
Building relationships with them is what it has all been about, so maintaining this is crucial.
As well as the police initiative, local businesses and fundraisers have stumped up facilities, time, money and materials to help get the project off the ground.
Given its success, it is time to consider rolling the scheme out to other parts of the island.
Article posted on 2nd July, 2009 - 4.25pm