Look What The SCT Have Been Doing In Tuffley During March
Written by Shaun Moore on March 30, 2010
The Gloucester South Safer Community Team (SCT) has been working hard in Tuffley during March to tackle those issues that matter most to local residents.
County Council funded officer PC Emma Macdonald has been working closely with the Gloucestershire Youth Service to secure funding for a youth club in Tuffley.
The club runs at the Beaufort Community Centre on a Tuesday between 7pm and 9pm and at St. Michael’s Hall between the same times on a Thursday evening.
PC Macdonald said: “It is fantastic that funding has been secured for a youth club to give the young people of Tuffley somewhere to spend their time in the evenings and as such are a fantastic tool in combating anti-social behaviour.
“We have also been working in partnership with Gloucester City Homes to identify persistent perpetrators of anti-social behaviour and then encouraging them to come along to an offender’s workshop which took place on Saturday March 20.
“In March we also saw new lighting placed in Randwick Park. This was raised as a concern by the public who didn’t feel safe using the park after dark.”
PC Macdonald also organised an educational activity at Tuffley Primary School to teach the children about the work of the police.
A mock crime scene was set up and the children had to look for clues to solve the crime and identify the criminal.
At the start of the month St.Peter’s School asked PC Macdonald to arrange an operation to educate the pupils about the dangers and consequences of illegal drugs and knives.
Two passive drug dogs searched pupils from three randomly selected Year 11 classes to demonstrate the ability of the dogs and the police to find illegal drugs anywhere.
A knife arch was then taken into the Year 11 school assembly to demonstrate the equipment available to find weapons.
Following the use of the passive drugs dog and the knife arch, officers spoke to pupils in their assembly about the consequences and dangers of taking illegal drugs and carrying knives.
PC Macdonald said: “As part of the Safer School Partnership the SCT have been working very closely with St. Peter’s school to keep their pupils safe, reduce crime and improve behaviour.
“Drug taking can have a massive impact on the future of young people and it is important that we openly discuss this with young people of this age so they can make informed life decisions.”
Cllr Will Windsor Clive, cabinet member for community safety, said: “This is an excellent example of how working closely within a community can bring huge benefits.
“PC Macdonald has done a great job of forging relationships in her area and through her work she has been able to achieve a great deal.
“Gloucestershire County Council agreed to pay for 63 police for exactly this purpose so I am extremely pleased to see how well this is working.”
To find out more about Neighbourhood Policing and your local Safer Community Team, please visit the Neighbourhood Policing section of the Gloucestershire Constabulary website at http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk
