A NEW community safety van will help bring police and communities together in the Lutterworth area.
Harborough District Community Safety Partnership (HDCSP) bought the van to connect police and safety officers with the people they serve.
Based at Harborough District Council (HDC), the new van will also allow officers to host beat surgeries in locations which do not have a village hall, and will enhance the work of the community safety team as they patrol anti-social behaviour hotspots.
The van, kitted out with a table and chairs, will provide a space for residents to meet police officers and talk over their concerns, especially those living in rural areas.
Other uses include promotional and campaign work, school and rural roadshows, joint events with emergency services colleagues and health and wellbeing partners, and drug and alcohol awareness events.
Coun Darren Woodiwiss, HDC’s portfolio holder for Community Safety Partnerships, said: “This is a welcome community resource.
“The Community Safety Partnership vehicle will support the efforts of a whole host of safety organisations and partners working together to prevent crime and reduce harm.
“Police officers will be able to spend more time getting to know local people and understanding their concerns. They will also be able to reach many of the smaller, more remote villages and communities, ensuring our rural residents feel listened to and supported.”
Rupert Matthews, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, allocated more than £17,000 from his budget towards the van.
He said: “Many neighbourhoods in the district are rural and do not all have village halls or suitable buildings to host beat surgeries or police events.
“The van will boost opportunities for people to meet their local officers and raise any important issues they have. It will also support officers and safety partners as they deliver visible policing patrols to tackle anti-social behaviour and other public priorities.”
