New recruit aims to tackle troublesome Edlington

A NEW police constable has been appointed neighbourhood officer in troubled Edlington village.

PC Matt Boulton joined South Yorkshire Police through the its Police Now graduate programme. 

He is one of four specialist neighbourhood officers working in and around Edlington to tackle issues and reduce crime.

Residents have reported drug-dealing, arson, criminal damage, dangerous motorbike-riding and intimidation on the village’s estates.

PC Boulton said: “It’s been a couple of months since I started working in Edlington and, although it was a challenge to begin with, I feel I have really started to build strong connections within the community and have been accepted by the local residents.

“It’s so nice being able to see the difference that has been made already and I know the connections I have developed will now only get stronger.”

PC Boulton will spend two years devoted solely to Edlington, identifying key issues and developing plans to address and resolve them.

He added: “Edlington has a number of complex issues — by having a constant presence there I have been able to integrate into the community, improve public confidence and gain an understanding of different community groups.

“As well as working directly with the community, I also work with the council, support services, schools and the housing agency to identify how we can work together to really make a difference.”

Community efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour are already in place, like Edlington Community Centre, which runs regular activities, police said.

PC Boulton hopes to develop more of the schemes, which “need to be celebrated and further built upon”, he said.

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