The Community Protection Service was launched at the end of July and looks set to obtain accreditation from Nottinghamshire Constabulary in January. The CPO team in Ashfield is currently ten strong, but will be increased to sixteen over the coming months.

Community Protection Officers already have a wide range of tools and powers, issuing fixed penalty notices for certain offences. They wear head and body cameras to record anti-social behaviour incidents, and are now equipped with stab-proof vests.

Typical incidents in which CPOs have been involved in recent months include:

• witnessing incidents leading to a number of arrests across Ashfield
• questioning and reporting school children truanting from school
• providing intelligence to the police, leading to the confiscation of motorbikes whose owners had no tax, insurance or MOT
• alerting police to out of date car tax discs
• assisting victims of attacks
• visiting properties and offering crime prevention advice, including smartwatering over 800 properties
• carrying out on street First Aid

CPOs are also playing their part in a series of workshops visiting local schools to raise awareness on anti-social behaviour and the impact it has.

Community Protection Officers are involved in joint initiatives with the Police and other partners.  Sessions have been planned with off-road motorcyclists who have been given acceptable behaviour contracts for riding in an anti-social manner, which includes motorcyclists participating in community work.

Commented Head of Neighbourhood Services, Edd deCoverly:

"The CPOs are the eyes and ears of the community and have been doing an excellent job, both in terms of assisting the Police in their duties and in establishing a strong presence on the streets of Ashfield. This in turn is leading to local people feeling much safer on our streets. Their enhanced powers in the New Year will enable them to be even more effective in their role."