SPONSOR SOUGHT FOR POLICE CAR
Rural officer needs transport to get around.
PC Clive Patterson, Tewkesbury's new rural beat officer, needs help to cover his huge beat. He has just been appointed rural beat officer for the Tewkesbury Inspector Area.
This means he is responsible for all the rural areas covered by Tewkesbury Borough - a total of 160 square miles.
At the moment, he has to rely on a pool car being available or getting a lift from fellow officers going the same way. However he is hoping that some community spirited company will help change this.
A vehicle of his own would help him keep in touch with the widespread communities he serves and become better known and trusted by local people. Winner Garage, in the Forest of Dean, has provided rural beat officers in Coleford and Cinderford with sponsored patrol vehicles. PC Patterson is looking for similar help.
His duties as rural beat officer will include setting up and managing a Rural Watch Scheme. This is being set up as part of Gloucestershire Constabulary's new Rural Policing Strategy. Although based on the very successful Neighbourhood Watch scheme, it has been specially adapted to suit the different requirements of rural areas, where houses are often much further apart. It will involve people who live, work or visit the countryside.
Members will be kept up to date with events via a sophisticated voice mail system, known as Voice Connect. The new system will allow messages to be left for co-ordinators, even if they are not available at the time.
News story date:June 16, 2000
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