Not just tickets and tea!
Jenni Adams - for Selby Beat column.
I AM Jenni Adams and have been a PCSO for nine years.
As well as the “normal” job of policing, I also work with the more diverse groups within our communities in Selby district.
Over the past several years Independent Advisory Groups have been developed nationally to assist the police service in understanding the role and the impact it has within diverse communities.
Over the past decade the police service has taken significant steps forward in working with communities, and continues to seek ways in which it can engage and understand the communities it serves.
This is something we, as a service, are extremely proud of. Neighbourhood policing has brought us back to the local level, identifying the needs and concerns of local communities.
IAGs have a pivotal role to play in providing police officers with the opportunity to have an open dialogue with members of the community from a range of different backgrounds.
This provides valuable insight and personal views on policing policies and practices and their impact within these communities.
On the back of this, earlier this year Selby set up its own meeting to enhance community consultation within the district.
It is called Selby Equality Network, in which I became a key member alongside my Inspector Michelle Falkingham and other members of our more diverse groups from within Selby.
The meetings are arranged so that local representatives are given the opportunity to raise any concerns with the police, and also for the police to discuss policing issues within the district.
Attendees at the meeting are from various diverse groups from within the local community. This is an important contribution towards engaging with Selby people.
Some of the groups attending these meetings are Selby District Disability Forum, who cover a wide range of disabilities from mental to physically impaired, as does Selby Voices for People.
Also Selby District Vision, for people with visual impairment, Age UK for older persons, NYCC hearing impairment workers, and representatives from NYCC, SDC, Alzheimers Society and other representatives are always welcome.
In my role, I have given presentations to some of the named groups on the topic of the “Nominated Neighbour Scheme” which is an initiative that has been set up to help put a stop to bogus callers and help you feel safer from unwanted visitors to your home.
The scheme seeks the help of neighbours or relatives to check whether unexpected callers are genuine, especially those calling on more vulnerable members of the community.
All this involves is placing a card in your window, which informs the caller that you do not recognise them and to go and speak to your nominated neighbour. These forms are available from your local police station or from your local PC/PCSO.
We also have another safeguarding system in place for the more vulnerable persons within our communities. These are called Vulnerable and of Concern.
Individuals can be a VAC for various reasons – repeat calls for service to NYP, a victim of crime, anti-social behaviour, distraction burglary, crime or fear of crime, to diversity-related issues.
The offenders of these sorts of incidents are usually organised and often select their targets due to the state of the premises or vulnerability of the victim.
The process allows victims and potential victims to be identified by incidents reported to their safer neighbourhood teams.
It identifies persons or properties that may be a target for the future, which allows officers to both prevent people from becoming victims and assists in bringing offenders to justice.
When I was nominated to carry out this role, I was surprised, due to my sense of humour and outlook on life.
However, I have thoroughly enjoyed the role and my sense of humour goes down a storm with most in what can be quite a heavy subject.
I have gained some valuable friendships and find the role very rewarding.
It’s another aspect to the role of PCSO. Not just tickets and tea!
Jenni Adams (left)
PCSO 3529
Selby Safer Neighbourhood Team
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Weather for Selby
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Heavy rain
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
