More beat officers are welcomed but change is needed to help build trust

CITY'S COMMUNITY LEADERS CALL FOR EARLY INTERVENTION TO TACKLE CAUSES OF CRIME

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

COMMUNITY leaders in Nottingham have welcomed new government plans to introduce 50 police officers across the county, but say real change is needed to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.

On April 10, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced every neighbourhood across the UK will have named, contactable police officers, with dedicated teams patrolling town centres at peak times. Nottinghamshire Police will receive 30 extra officers and 20 police support community officers under the new plans.

These have been welcomed by community leaders working to prevent crime across Nottinghamshire, who say the extra officers and funding are needed, but that different approaches must be considered to keep anti-social behaviour off the streets.

Ben Rosser, chief executive and founder of The Pythian Club, a youth organisation based in Basford, says he saw first-hand the importance of having more officers within the local force during his time as a former police officer. But he stressed new recruits need to understand the different communities across the city.