Police shake-up means five extra officers in town (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Police shake-up means five extra officers in town

10:30am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News

FIVE extra police officers have started working in Bury as part of a major shake-up of the way the borough is policed.

The shake-up also means Bury’s six policing areas have, as of Tuesday, been merged into two — Bury North and Bury South — and detectives are now based in the same office as neighbourhood police officers.

Police chiefs say the change means that local officers will be able to deal with serious crime as well as community issues.

The teams will be based at Bury and Whitefield police stations, but officers will travel around the borough by car, bicycle and bus.

Ch Supt Caroline Ball, who leads the Bury division, said: “This modelling started before the cuts. They are parallel, but it wasn’t actually done to save money.

“It is designed to put as many front-facing officers out as we can so that people can report crimes and they get properly investigated. As a result of putting admin officers in to provide support, it means that staff don’t have to do as much admin.

“They will be getting out on patrol more in the communities they are responsible for.

“Some will be on bikes and others on buses. I think it’s important that they get to meet people on their journey.”

The Bury North team will be based at Bury police station and cover an area including Bury town centre, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Greenmount, Elton, Brandlesholme and Chesham.

It will be led by Insp Bryn Williams and Det Insp John Mazzolai.

The Bury South team, based at Whitefield police station, will be led by Insp Mark Kenny and Det Insp Amber Waywell.

Its area will include Radcliffe, Whitefield, Unsworth, Sunnybank, Hollins, Prestwich and Simister.

Officers will parade from Bury and Whitefield stations, but will continue to use Ramsbottom and Radcliffe police for patrols.

Chiefs say shift patterns have been changed so that more police will be working at the times when they are needed.

Bury North police can be contacted on 0161 8568181 or burynorth@gmp.police.uk, while Bury South can be contacted on 0161 8568204 or burysouth@gmp.police.uk.