Police: Now we're right up your street!

Households in south Norfolk are set to reap the benefits of Norfolk Police's move into a new era of modernisation and neighbourhood-focused policing as for the first time the district has its own senior police officer working locally in the area.

The move will mean that important decisions about local issues will now be made by senior officers working in south Norfolk rather than individuals based elsewhere in the county.

The new-look south Norfolk district, which includes Diss, Harleston, Loddon, Long Stratton, Poringland, Costessey, Wymondham, Hethersett and Mulbarton, now has its own superintendent and the number of local inspectors has doubled from two to four.

Supt Paul Sanford is the new superintendent for the district and since April 1 has been based at Diss police station.

Mr Sanford, who is married with a young family and has lived in the local district all his life, said: “I am very proud to have been given the responsibility for operational policing in south Norfolk.

“Being born and raised here and now choosing to bring my family up here, it is an area with which I have a real affinity.

“I am committed to maintaining standards and building upon the successes already achieved in recent years.”

During his service, Mr Sanford, 32, has worked in the south Norfolk area as an operational sergeant.

He then quickly progressed to the rank of inspector working in the Norwich area. As a chief inspector he headed up Norwich CID, overseeing criminal investigations throughout the city and south Norfolk area. In recent months he has worked on the project team which led the modernisation of the force.

He said: “Local people living and working in the south Norfolk area will undoubtedly benefit from the increase in local inspectors and local issues being managed by senior officers on the ground.

“The modernisation process is about frontline leadership and locally-identifiable officers who are responsible to the public.”

Mr Sanford said targets for the forthcoming months would include reducing crime further in this already low-crime area, bringing more offenders to justice and a determination to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and improve quality of service.

Mr Sanford added: “I think it is timely to remind people that with the summer coming we are approaching the highest crime months in our district.

“I would remind people that there are simple ways in which you can avoid becoming a victim of crime.

“Some simple measures I would encourage people to take include: avoiding leaving windows and doors open when you are out of sight either in the garden or in another part of the house and avoiding leaving garden tools laying around which criminals may be able to use to assist them in breaking into your home.”

The crime trends which have been affecting the district in recent weeks have included thefts from vehicles and burglaries of sheds and other non-domestic premises.

Anyone with concerns about local crimes or issues of anti-social behaviour should contact one of the eight safer neighbourhood teams in the area. The teams are each managed by a local sergeant and consist of police constables and police community support officers. A total of four inspectors based in Diss, Bowthorpe, Wymondham and Poringland will be managing local issues and reporting to Mr Sanford.

The wide-ranging force modernisation programme was formally announced on April 1 and will see a raft of efficiency-boosting changes including:

Norfolk's three existing policing areas being replaced with one territorial policing area known as the County Delivery Unit.

A new way of policing that will deliver a consistent service right across the county - with enhanced front-line services working to provide local solutions to local problems.

A new visual identity -a refreshed force crest and new strap-line “Our Priority is You”, along with a new-look uniform which will be phased in over the coming months.

The changes deliver on the Force's Vision, Pledge and Principles - its public statement of commitment to provide excellent, localised policing services which are customer-led and improve confidence and satisfaction.