Gloucester protection officers set to return to patrols

The officers are set to return to patrol areas including Kingsholm

Protection officers look set to return to tackle anti-social behaviour on the outskirts of a city centre.

Teams tasked with stopping antisocial behaviour, street drinking, begging and retail crime were withdrawn in August when funding for the scheme ceased.

However, new funding for Gloucester's protection officers is now believed to have been secured.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton said the return of patrol officers is "welcome news".

City protection officers cover the underpass at Gloucester Railway Station and nearby areas in Kingsholm and Wootton.

They are first aid trained and security industry authority approved and while they do not have arresting powers they can detain someone until the police arrive.

Two-person patrols are expected to return to the area in November as a funding grant application by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is understood to have been successful, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The scheme used to be funded by GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton said businesses and residents had been concerned about the loss of patrols

Councillor Hilton said the officers do an "excellent job in curtailing street drinking and anti-social behaviour".

"Local businesses and residents were concerned about the loss of the 'red jacket' patrols, as I was," said Mr Hilton."

"Escalation in anti-social behaviour was a big worry.

"I heard on Friday that the funding grant application to the Police and Crime Commissioner had been successful and that two-person patrols should start in November," he added.

The Gloucestershire PCC says it is unable to comment on the scheme at this stage.