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Police force recruits 30 extra community officers

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
John Devine
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
John Devine/BBC Chris Arnold wearing a police hat stares at the camera. He is stood in Peterborough city centre square and other officers and general public can be seen behind him. The square has small marquees on it and chairs and trees in the background.John Devine/BBC
Sgt Chris Arnold has been recruited to help lead a team of additional officers in Peterborough

A police force has recruited an extra 30 community officers after it received more funding from the government.

Cambridgeshire Police made the announcement during a launch in Peterborough, where the first 10 community officers will be located.

The team, which will be based in the centre and eastern sector of the city, will see two extra sergeants and eight additional constables.

Chief Constable Nick Dean said: "This begins the start of neighbourhood policing enhancement across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough."

John Devine/BBC Line of police officers three deep stand in Peterborough City square. The are wearing hats and high-visibility waistcoats. A neon yellow-and-blue-chequered police car with the word POLICE on a door is parked close to the officers. John Devine/BBC
An additional 30 police officers and support officers have been recruited after the government provided extra cash to forces

The move is part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee launched by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on a visit to the county in April.

The Labour government is aiming to put named local officers into each neighbourhood and boost police ranks by 13,000 by 2029.

Mr Dean said he hoped the extra officers would build on the community work already being done by other local teams.

"What I hope to achieve is extra visibility, extra engagement, really dealing with the crimes and the incidents that matter to our communities," said the chief constable.

"Our neighbourhood teams do a fantastic job and have done a fantastic job, but this really does enhance that offer to our communities."

John Devine/BBC Chief Constable Nick Dean stands in Peterborough square with officers and the general public behind him. Trees and shops can be seen in the distance. The chief constable stares at the camera. He wears a white shirt with lapels denoting the Cambridgeshire force and his rank. He also has on a black tie and a lanyard round his neck.John Devine/BBC
Chief Constable Nick Dean said the extra £2m for officers in Peterborough was a start of the county-wide roll-out

Sgt Chris Arnold is part of the new city centre Neighbourhood Uplift team, who with another sergeant will be leading eight constables and a police community support officer.

"What I'm really looking forward to is increasing [officer] visibility in the city," he said.

"It's going to be hugely impactful for the city to see an extra host of police officers to try and keep our streets safe."

The force said the officers would provide increased coverage and visibility as police continue to work with partners and local communities to tackle key issues such as anti-social behaviour, retail crime, drug dealing and knife crime.

John Devine/BBC Woman wearing a red T-shirt stands in Peterborough square. She is smiling and looking at the camera, She has greying frizzy hair and wears glasses. Behind her are lots of police officers and members of the public. A church can be seen in the background and shops. John Devine/BBC
Danielle Campbell said she felt safer going out at night in London than Peterborough

Danielle Campbell, 52, lives in Paston, Peterborough, and said more officers were needed.

Her friend had a handbag snatched as they were unloading her car outside her house.

"I don't feel safe going out at night, and I'm from London, and I felt safe there," she said.

She said it was not the police's fault, as it was stretched, but wondered how an extra 30 officers could impact the county.

"Unfortunately it's the little crimes that are getting left," she said.

"If there were more police I would feel safer, it's just a deterrent."

John Devine/BBC Woman wearing dark glasses stands in Peterborough square. She has black hair and looks at the camera. Behind her are lots of police officers and members of the public. A church can be seen in the background and shops. John Devine/BBC
Mary Skyers wants the new recruits to walk the streets instead of riding in patrol cars

Mary Skyers, 75, who lives in Bretton said she would welcome more officers walking the streets rather than in cars "flying past", as they did in the past.

"It's a reassurance for a lot of people, especially elderly people," she said.

"There's a lot of crime, knives and everything that goes on. You do need them."

John Devine/BBC Daniel Slack stands in a square with dark hair, a beard and a mustache. He is wearing large black headphones. There are chairs and gazebos behind him. John Devine/BBC
Daniel Slack says he would welcome more officers where he lives

Daniel Slack, 26, from Peterborough, said he has had "good and bad experiences with the police" in the past.

He wants them to do more about the drug use and prostitution where he lives, and would welcome a better police presence.

"The area I'm in, I've seen people robbed. I've been robbed at cash machines, seen people get attacked, especially due to drug use.

"And if there was more police hopefully that would prevent that happening."

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