I am the Neighbourhood Specialist Constable based at Heathfield along with the four PCSO's Parrish Claxton, Paula Mackie, Tasha Robards and Fleur Whitaker and also our PNSO (Police Neighbourhood Support Officer) Sandy Wratten.

We as a team look after Heathfield and surrounds monitoring and getting involved with in investigating crimes, anti-social behaviour and community issues and events.

Since I have been in post we have successfully put in place 8 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. These are Contracts that are drawn up between police, housing and an individual with parents which state that they young person identified agrees to behaviour in an acceptable manner. This is one of the ways that we are monitoring the young people that are causing us anti-social problems in the area.

When young persons are stopped checked by us, especially when it involves alcohol, whether under the influence or being in possession, we have set up a system where the parents of the individual stopped are sent through the post a letter stating to them where why and in what circumstances their child was stopped and spoken to. We are finding both of these tools very useful in tackling the anti-social behaviour.

We currently have an excellent Neighbourhood Watch Scheme running in Waldron and also one for Cherwell Road/Springwood Close area and another being set up in the Waldron Thorns/Leeves Close/Way and Newnham Way area of Heathfield. The NHW Schemes are a fantastic way to get the community involved in looking after the community they live in. We as the police help to start the scheme and continually support the scheme for as long as it runs. We would actively encourage people who are thinking of starting NHW in their area to come to us to find out more.

This service has offered a great opportunity to communicate what is going on in the area with the community of Heathfield. We will be updating the site on a regular basis to keep you informed. It also provides us with the chance to become more accessible and approachable to yourselves, along with the fact that there is also the front office at Heathfield which is opened between 1000-1600hours every Saturday. This giving a chance for the community to come in person and speak to one of the team here.