NEW police officers are getting a foothold in Barnsley’s communities - thanks to a project which is aiming to get bobbies back on the beat.
The scheme, dubbed Police Now, is a two-year programme for graduates which gives on-the-job training to budding officers such as PCs Amy Mellor and Fran Robbs, who are based at Goldthorpe and Kendray stations.
Police Now was piloted by the Metropolitan Police and this year expanded to nearly half of all police forces across the country - including South Yorkshire.
The aim is to bring in new faces with fresh ideas, according to the police, who want to have more diverse staff in place following their reversion to community hubs which has seen four stations - Goldthorpe, Kendray, Royston and Barnsley town centre - become bases for teams.
Each team has one sergeant, several PCs, a team of PCSOs and council enforcement staff.
PC Mellor, who is 22, said: “Police Now has been a great thing to be involved with. I came across it by accident and never really had my eye on becoming an officer, but it’s interesting as the police want to break the culture in the force and get a fresh take on local policing.
“I did an English degree at university so it shows that anyone can have a career in the force if they’re willing to work hard. The initiative is very much hard work with intense training, but you get a better understanding of the job by being on the beat and engaging with local people.
“We focus on antisocial behaviour within the community and conduct much more patrols. There’s been no team in Goldthorpe for a few years and it’s now about building the public’s confidence and getting their trust in return.”
The reshuffle of former local policing teams, which saw the teams being based in Wombwell, was criticised by residents and councillors across Barnsley who claimed reduced coverage led to a spike in crime after bobbies were taken off their usual beats.
But a U-turn was performed following the backlash and the four hubs began operating in January this year - a move which has since been praised by those who condemned the police for juggling with the tried-and-tested method in a bid to slash £8.1m from its budget.
“Police Now is a great scheme and a really good idea as it’s a different entry route to what you think you’d go down to become a PC,” PC Robbs, 21, said.
“We’re fresher and are solely neighbourhood-based, so we’re out in our communities and getting back to what people want which is seeing bobbies on the beat. They missed seeing that before the local teams came back as it does provide a lot of reassurance.”
David Spencer, a former Detective Chief Inspector and the co-founder of the scheme, said: “Police Now highlights what a long-lasting and positive impact police officers can have in the communities that need us most.
“It is a unique opportunity for individuals to face intellectual challenges, develop leadership skills on the frontline as police officers and take on real responsibility from day one.”
