Anger as town centre loses its beat bobby (From Warrington Guardian)

Anger as town centre loses its beat bobby

FRUSTRATED shop staff and security officers have branded the decision to take away a Northwich town centre police officer as ludicrous.

Shop managers decided to write to Ch Supt Tim Jackson to register their protest after a direct radio link they had with a Northwich police officer was turned off on Wednesday.

Robert Tomkys, manager of Woolworths, said: "We're in the ludicrous situation where the police station is just yards away but someone could steal something from the store, run down the road past the station and by the time we've got through to the police, the moment's gone.

"Local villains seem to be taking advantage of the fact that the police presence is not what it was."

He said that when he has tried to contact the police, he has been put through to a call centre and passed on to someone who just logs the details of the incident.

He said: "It's a lot of red tape and beaurocracy, which I think is at the expense of a response."

Matt Schott, a Northwich store manager, said: "It's ridiculous - they've taken away our back-up.

"We go out of our way to stop shoplifters but why should we without protection?"

Security officer Philip Brightman said: "We used to have a police officer on the radio link or around town, so if he spotted something he'd call us up."

Insp Graeme Birmingham, of Northwich's Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU), said: "I understand people's concerns regarding there no longer being a police officer appointed to exclusively police the town centre.

"However, the Northwich NPU is made up of more than 20 constables to police all the communities of Northwich so in effect, the town centre can call upon the resources of the whole team if necessary."