New “beat” policing model better for Nantwich, says inspector

Nantwich’s new inspector told councillors a new way of policing in the town will make it “better” than before.

Insp Alison Ross, the new Beat Manager for the town, told a Nantwich Town Council meeting a new team dedicated to longer term “community policing” will resolve many issues.

She spoke a week after Cheshire Police launched its new structure, which now sees Nantwich officers operating out of a new Local Policing Unit in Crewe, rather than the Beam Street station in Nantwich.

As well as a ‘response team’ of officers responding to incidents, emergencies and crime, there is now a ‘beat team’ of four officers.

These will be dedicated to specific wards in the town in a bid to tackle longer term problems such as antisocial behaviour.

Insp Ross told the meeting tonight (July 13): “We have now gone live with the new model of policing.

“And I’m confident you will end up with a better service that before.

“We’ve never had a beat management structure before. Now we have a team dedicated who can respond and deal with community issues, separately to the response team.

“You will see a difference in that aspect of policing.”

Councillor Douglas Bowyer-Bates brought up the issue of anti-social behaviour on Tuesday nights – traditionally student night in Nantwich.

There had been reports of buildings being vandalised and windows smashed in the South Crofts and Dysart Buildings area of Nantwich.

“One of the big issues is the night time economy, this is very much on our radar,” added Insp Ross.

“I will be out on patrol this Friday and Saturday night this weekend so I can see for myself the issues.

“We appreciate there is a knock on effect from these nights on some residents and we plan to deal with this.”

Cllr David Marren, who is also a member of the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel, said a number of councillors and residents had expressed “concern” at the new policing model.

“We have taken everything that the new Chief Inspector has said in good faith, and we will be quite satisfied if boots on the ground are not diminished.”