16 Aug: Police unveil their latest weapon against crime

Police unveil their latest weapon against crime -

Bobbies on Bicycles Skateboards

Hampshire Police's latest initiative in the fight against crime is to pack beat officers off to join youths at a skate ramp. Police Community Support Officer Stephen Dean is hoping that his skateboarding skills will help him ride it out. The officer is taking part in a police force's latest initiative in the fight against crime.

Uniformed officers attend skateboarding workshops aimed at 12 to 16-year-olds, where they mix with the youngsters and get tuition from expert skaters. Hampshire Police tries to ensure at least one of a team of four constables, three community support officers and one sergeant are there for each session, held twice a week.

PCSO Dean, 22, in particular, is keen to get on board. "It's great for breaking down barriers," he said.
"It lets the youngsters see a more human side to the police. The kids see us down there skateboarding and see us as cool, rather than something they have to fear. All the kids recognise me now in the street and say hello, so I think it's given me more kudos."

Hampshire Police spokeswoman Nicola Collins said the scheme, a joint initiative with Gosport Borough Council, "lets police talk to young people in a positive situation".
She added that officers attend only if there is no more serious police business to deal with.
"If they get called up to go to another incident they will go off and deal with it rather than staying there and having fun skateboarding."
A similar scheme in which police organised other activities for children in the area apparently slashed crime by 28 per cent last year.