gary finchett police office, web chat

Read all about our Police Watch.

We held a Police Watch day, where our team of reporters and photographers went out and about with Warrington Police.

From seeing the work of neighbourhood officers, to those who deal with 999 calls, crime scene investigators, drug teams and burglary unit, we reported on all the work that goes on.

And we held a webchat with the head of police in Warrington, Ch Sup Gary Finchett.

To see the full answers Gary gave during the day on Friday, click on the question.

A day with the forensic team

Kay Murphin, a laboratory officer works on a fingerprint

8:20am Sunday 15th November 2009

AS I headed to the forensics department in Cheshire Police HQ I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect – would I see evidence of a murder scene or fingerprints left by a burglar?

Welcome to CSI:Warrington

CSI Phil Done dusts for finger prints

2:50pm Sunday 8th November 2009

THE world of Crime Scene Investigation is seemingly filled with glamour as hit TV shows have sparked huge interest in investigators cracking murder cases with just a tiny piece of evidence.

There is a need to educate teens

1:30pm Sunday 8th November 2009

FOR PC Jeff Mather the importance of educating teenagers about safety cannot be underestimated.

From false teeth to firearms, you'll find it all in lost property

Property officer Gary Ward

10:10am Sunday 8th November 2009

FALSE teeth, a skateboard with no wheels and a half empty can of hairspray are just some of the items that have been handed in to the police’s property office.

In the firing line

‘Armed and dangerous’ reporter Nicola Davies

9:40am Sunday 8th November 2009

SHOTGUNS, pistols, rubber bullet launchers and Taser are some of the weaponry carried by the firearms officers based at Cheshire Police HQ in Winsford.

A matter of life and death

Leander Wilson a communications operator in the 999 call centre

11:50am Saturday 7th November 2009

THE pressure is tangible among the team of call handlers in Cheshire Police HQ as they deal with emergency after emergency.

Specialist support for the boys in blue

9:40am Saturday 7th November 2009

SENIOR officers in the planning and tasking department are responsible for deploying the specialist support to uniformed police across the town.

Keeley’s dream job is top dog

Dog handler Keeley Powles with Ollie

9:30am Saturday 7th November 2009

A POLICE dog handler is one of the most coveted jobs in the force, according to one officer who spent nine years trying to break into the job.

The victim of crime is always our top priority

Det Con Steve Hopkins shows case evidence to Miranda Newey

5:20pm Friday 6th November 2009

NO stone is left unturned by officers in the Criminal Investigation Department.

‘We are up to the challenge’

Insp Richard Spedding

2:00pm Friday 6th November 2009

NEIGHBOURHOOD policing is all about visibility and the public’s perception, according to Warrington East Inspector Richard Spedding.

If you dared to scare

Alison Shacklock hands out Halloween leaflets to resident Mary Johnson

12:50pm Friday 6th November 2009

PREPARATIONS for Mischief Night and Halloween started early for the police.

From traffic collisions to football bans

10:40am Friday 6th November 2009

THE variety of people working at Warrington Police Station’s help desk is the ingredient that gives employees such satisfaction from their job.

Face to face with their victims

5:10pm Thursday 5th November 2009

ONE of the newest tools being used by police is restorative justice, an initiative that sees first-time offenders face their victims to explain their actions and see what effect they have had.

Three years for gang who robbed taxi driver with screwdriver

4:30pm Thursday 5th November 2009

THREE men who robbed a taxi driver with a screwdriver for £100 have each been jailed for three years.

How many of the NINE Town Centre licensed premises found serving alcohol to under age or over intoxicated drinkers have been prosecuted? Given the Governments apparent strong stance on these offences, I wonder what Cheshire Police's position is, or is the

3:07pm Friday 30th October 2009

Individuals who are found to be serving alcohol to those underage or to those who are drunk can be prosecuted. Bar staff who were involved in the recent test purchases in Warrington town centre have been prosecuted. All 7 have been interviewed by police and Trading Standards. Five were given £80 fixed penalty notices for serving alcohol to underage drinkers and two have been summonsed for serving alcohol to underage drinkers. All those given fixed penalty notices fully admitted the offence. In addition to this we have also carried out another operation targeting the serving of alcohol to drunks in the town centre. As a result of that 3 bar staff were interviewed and issued with £80 fixed penalty notices for serving alcohol to drunks. All the premises that failed these test purchases have/will be retested at some point. To date 4 of these licensed premises have been retested and passed. Licensing officials are regularly carrying out visits to premises across the town to ensure they are adhering to the conditions of their licence. Test purchases are part of that process. If a premises fails a test purchase on three occasions in three months then the premises itself can be taken to a review hearing where potentially the licence could be revoked or suspended. Police and partners in Warrington are committed to tackling alcohol related crime and disorder. We will continue to crackdown on those premises who believe they can flout the law – whilst working to support those who are working hard with us to raise standards within the town.

What are the Police doing to tackle Halloween problems? Ali, Padgate

2:25pm Friday 30th October 2009

Traditionally, incidents of anti-social behaviour in Warrington rise over this period. Troublemakers will not be tolerated in the town and extra police officers have been scheduled to work at peak times.

What is the point of CSOs? And why do some areas in town not have many? Why, Orford

1:43pm Friday 30th October 2009

We have about 60 Police Community Support Officers in Warrington and everyone of them is committed to making their communities safe and feel safe.

Do police have more paperwork these days and does it slow down you doing your job? Truth hunter, Woolston

1:42pm Friday 30th October 2009

have been a police officer now for 30 years and I've filled in a lot of forms in my time! T hings are slowly getting better with the advent of new technologies such as mobile data, which means my staff can spend as much time out of police stations as possible.

What is the biggest problem in town? Drugs or drink? Steve, Warrington

1:40pm Friday 30th October 2009

Both! Drink and drugs cause serious problems not just for the public but the people who abuse them.

What are the police doing to make sure something like Garry Newlove doesn’t happen again? And do you think it could ever happen again?

1:39pm Friday 30th October 2009

Lessons were learnt from Mr Newlove’s tragic death.

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