A monthly column to keep you in touch with policing matters IT has been a busy month for the north neighbourhood team. Like other forces across the country, we have all had extra commitments and duties associated with the World Cup. Members of the team

A monthly column to keep you in touch with policing matters

IT has been a busy month for the north neighbourhood team.

Like other forces across the country, we have all had extra commitments and duties associated with the World Cup.

Members of the team have been called upon to provide support across the force, bolstering numbers to ensure that the event could be enjoyed and incidents of disorder were kept to a minimum.

To this end, the community beat managers have been unable to spend as much time as they would have liked on their individual beat areas. The community support officers, however, have ensured that our commitment to our beats has been met, that community engagement has been maintained and tasks have been undertaken and acted upon.

During the last six weeks we have run a trial where we deploy one police officer from my neighbourhood team to patrol on foot in the city centre. The aim of this patrol was to tackle offences of shoplifting and public order.

I have been heartened by the response that both my officers and I have received from members of the public and retail traders who have taken the trouble to say how much difference this officer's presence has made with a marked reduction in shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. Officers have reported how well they are being received and how much information is being passed to them. Due to this very positive response I am pleased to say that I have decided to deploy Pc Creasy, already a well- known officer on north neighbourhood team, to the city centre beat.

Pc Creasy will be targeting the few car drivers in town who persist in disrupting the local residents' lives by driving and using their vehicles inconsiderately.

As a neighbourhood, we have had a marked increase in overnight vehicle crime in Ely, both theft of motor vehicles and theft of items from vehicles.

In Littleport we have had a substantial increase in day time burglaries. Can I ask that residents in both areas spend a few moments checking their security arrangements to ensure that we are not making life easy for the offenders in these areas and report any persons acting suspiciously?

These two types of crime will be the priorities for the north neighbourhood team this month.

Sergeant Alan Savill, North Neighbourhood. Tel: 01353 656640/ 0845 456 4564 Ext 6640. Mobex 7110833

Or you can email:

alan.savill@cambs.pnn.police.uk