Lightwater Safety Community Team

The new Lightwater Safer Community Team, helping the local residents. Pictured with Sergeant Paul Gaffney, from left they are Alan Barnard, Al Hughes and Jo Lowes.

Lightwater Safer Community Team

An exciting new scheme has been launched in Lightwater, which is enhancing the safety of the village.

Three uniformed members of the local community are the first in Surrey to walk the streets of their village, with the backing of the Surrey Police Authority, Surrey Police, Surrey Heath Community Safety Panel and the local Police and Community Partnership Group.

The volunteer members of the Lightwater Safer Community Team are providing a uniform presence in the village and assisting in the borough's Community Safety Strategy to keep public places safe and feeling safe by their visible patrol, thus reducing the fear of crime. A training programme has equipped the volunteers for this interacting role with the public and the ability to deal with safety concerns.

Edward Boaden, Chairman of the Lightwater Police and Community Partnership Group, said the scheme was the result of concerns raised at public meetings when people said they would feel happier if someone was walking the streets looking out for and reporting anything amiss.

Alan Peirce, Chairman of Surrey Police Authority, said: "This initiative founded within the community demonstrates that local people are interested in solving local concerns."

The scheme has the backing of the Surrey Police and Chief Inspector Mick Day of North West Surrey Police described it as "a splendid example of the community helping itself to reduce the fear of crime".

The volunteers work during the daylight hours out of Lightwater Police Station and are fully supported by the police.

Anyone interested in joining the Lightwater Safer Community Team, or setting up a team elsewhere can contact Surrey Police Authority at P.O. Box 412, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1BR, or telephone 01483 534679, or Edward Boaden, Chairman of the Lightwater Police and Community Partnership Group, telephone 01276 479887.