Chatty start for new community officer, Andrea

PC Andrea Beard began her new role in the community policing team for

the area '“ as well as the Orchard and Pevensey wards of Bognor Regis '“ on Monday.

She spent her first two days walking around her beat to become familiar with its paths and open spaces. She instantly used the time to talk to residents and intends to continue the habit.

"Community policing is getting back to the basics of what policing is all about," she said.

"It's about having a visible presence in the area and speaking to people. And I love talking to people.

"Being part of the community policing team means you have the time to talk to them and listen to their concerns.

"You try to help them solve their issues, with their help and that of other agencies. But the police can't do it all on our own and we are never going to solve everybody's problems."

PC Beard, 43, has more than five years' experience in the police. She spent a year in a 999 response team in Midhurst followed by a spell in

community policing in Chichester.

She originally spent 13 years as a medic in the RAF because she was just too small to meet the police's then height restrictions.

PC Beard's arrival takes the community policing team for Bersted, Pevensey and Orchard to two PCs and three full-time and one part-time police community support officer.

Bognor police station's Inspector Clare McKnight, who leads community policing around the town, said: "We want to ensure the community in

that area has confidence in the police service. We are also keen to ensure people there receive the policing to which they are entitled."

A further sergeant is set to be appointed to bring the community

policing team for the Bognor area to its full strength of 27.

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