Colchester: Stroll with a Patrol in your local area

Colchester’s Community Policing Team (CPT) are inviting local residents to join them on foot patrols this spring and summer.

Colcestrians will get the opportunity to Stroll with a Patrol in every ward in the district, with more than 40 events scheduled in 30 different areas from now until the end of August.

The one-hour walks will be a chance for members of the public to get to know their local officers, point out any places they feel unsafe or highlight issues they feel need brining to police attention.

The strolls are an addition to the successful Coffee with Cops and Cops outside Shops meetings.

Inspector Stuart Austin explained the thinking behind the events.

“I’m really keen for the CPT to be visible and for people to know the faces and names of their local officers and build those personal connections.

“We want people to take us to places they feel unsafe and tell us what concerns them.

“It’s about giving people a voice in their community and bringing communities together with their policing team to solve problems.

“The issues raised will be recorded and we’ll report back to the public to tell them what we’ve done to find a resolution.”

 

There will be a PC and a Police Community Support Officer at every event and invitations have also been made to partners at parish councils, the anti-social behaviour officers from local housing associations, the NHS and neighbourhood wardens.

Even if the problems raised aren’t the direct responsibility of the police - such overgrown trees or lack of street lighting - Insp Austin said the CPT can help by using their links within the community safety partnership.

He is also hopeful that the strolls will encourage communities to come together to discuss issues.

“It’s an opportunity to talk to your community and neighbours about your issues and find out what the police can do to help.”

The events start on Tuesday 5 April in Greenstead. Meet at 6pm at the Hunwicke Shops for a patrol around Lower Greenstead to the university via Salary Brook.

 

If you’d like to Stroll with a Patrol, there is no need to book in advance just come along and say hello in one of the following locations:

Town centre

• Monday 11 April, 5:30pm. Meet outside McDonald’s, High Street 
• Monday 9 May, 6pm. Meet outside Colchester Castle 
• Wednesday 27 July, 6pm. Meet outside Atik

Christ Church

• Wednesday 11 May, 6pm. Meet at Ireton Road Church
• Sunday 26 June, 3pm. Meet at the car park besides play area on Napier Road 

New Town & Hythe

• Monday 27 June, 11am. Meet outside the Co-Op, Wimpole Road 
• Thursday 14 July, 2.30pm. Meet outside the Co-Op, The Maltings 

Old Heath

• Thursday 7 July, 6pm. Meet at Old Heath Community Centre 

Monkwick and Blackheath

• Monday 25 April, 6pm. Meet at the Willows shops. 
• Wednesday 1 June, 6pm.  Meet at the play park on Monkwick Avenue (School Road)

Rowhedge

• Thursday 5 May, 6pm. Meet at Rowhedge Village Hall 
• Monday 18 July, 11am. Meet besides The Anchor public house

Mersea Island

• Thursday 11 August, 6pm. Meet outside West Mersea Library 
• Wednesday 27 July, 11am. Meet at Cudmore Grove Car Park, East Mersea

Langenhoe and Abberton

• Wednesday 29 June, 6pm. Meet outside Langenhoe Village Hall

Birch and Layer

• Thursday 23 June, 11am. Meet outside the Hare and Hounds public house, Birch
• Sunday 21 August, 4pm. Meet outside Layer de la Haye Primary School 

Tiptree

• Tuesday 30 August, 6pm. Meet at the Grove Road skate park 

Lexden and Prettygate

• Wednesday 6 July, 6pm. Meet outside Co-op at the Commons. 
• Tuesday 22 August, 6pm. Meet outside Kingsland Methodist Church next door to Aldi on London Road

Shrub End and St Michaels

• Wednesday 1 June, 6pm. Meet outside Co-Op, Iceni Way, Shrub End
• Wednesday 3 August, 3pm. Meet outside Costcutter, St Michaels

Stanway

• Thursday 7 April, 6pm. Meet outside The Stanway School, Winstree Road

Tollgate/Lakelands

• Sunday 22 May, 6pm. Meet at Lakeside Walk

White City

• Thursday 16 June, 5pm. Meet outside Willow Brook Primary School 

Greenstead

• Tuesday 5 April, 6pm. Meet by the Hunwicke shops
• Wednesday 17 August, 6pm. Meet outside Greenstead Community Centre 

University of Essex 

• Tuesday 5 April, 6pm. Meet by Hunwicke shops
• Wednesday 18 May, 12pm. Meet in the square

Wivenhoe

• Monday 11 July, 12pm. Meet outside Co-op, High Street

Highwoods 

• Saturday 2 July, 12pm. Meet outside Tesco, Highwoods 
• Saturday 6 August, 12pm. Meet at Highwoods Country Park car park, Turner Road

Mile End

• Tuesday 3 May, 6pm. Meet outside the Myland Church. 
• Thursday 21 July, 6pm. Meet outside Camulos Academy

St Johns

• Monday 13 June, 10am. Meet outside Tesco, St Johns Road. 

Dedham and Langham

• Tuesday 21 June, 6pm. Meet outside the Sun Inn, Dedham
• Tuesday 12 July, 11am. Meet at Langham Community Shops

Rural north

• Wednesday 20 April, 6pm. Meet at Boxted Village Hall
• Sunday 14 August, 4pm. Meet outside The Half Butt Inn, Gt Horksley 
• Tuesday 19 July, 6pm. Meet outside the Three Horseshoes Public House, Fordham

West Bergholt

• Sunday 3 July, 4pm Meet outside Orpan Village Hall, West Bergholt

Wakes Colne and Chapel /Great Tey

• Thursday 28 April, 6pm. Meet outside Wakes Colne Post Office. 
• Thursday 25 August, 7pm. Meet outside Great Tey Village Hall

Copford

• Tuesday 9 August, 6pm. Meet London Road Jct with School Road. 

Marks Tey

• Thursday 26 May, 6pm. Meet outside Marks Tey Village Hall.