'Local officers' to target anti-social behaviour

The force hope the move will help tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

Every neighbourhood in the Thames Valley now has a named, contactable officer according to Thames Valley Police.

The changes have been introduced as part of the government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee which hopes to return visible policing to communities.

The force is also holding regular public meetings to give the public and local businesses the chance to tell them about issues they face with anti-social behaviour.

The names of the local officers can be found on the Thames Valley Police website or local Facebook pages.

Thames Valley Police says it hopes the officers will be able to increase the number of shoplifting offences being sent to court and improve its response to anti-social behaviour.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Mike Loebenberg, Thames Valley Police lead for local policing, said: "We welcome the government's commitment to the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee as it complements a lot of work already underway within the Thames Valley to protect our communities.

"We have more local neighbourhood officers patrolling and working with local residents and businesses to understand their concerns which they use alongside crime data and local intelligence to identify local priorities to focus on."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Communities are sick of the antisocial behaviour and shop theft blighting their town centres.

"There are too many neighbourhoods across the country who simply do not feel safe.

"A connection between the police and public has been lost for too long but restoring visible officers to our streets and giving communities a proper named contact will rebuild those bonds with the communities they serve."