Middletonia 'on the beat' with Adrian
As editor of Middletonia, I was invited by PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) Adrian Hazlehurst to accompany him on a patrol of his local area of Middleton Junction late on Friday afternoon (19th). Adrian has been inviting individuals with community interests to discuss crime issues as an extra initiative alongside the regular PACT meetings at the Jumbo Centre on Grimshaw Lane.
The Junction and Moorclose areas have suffered particularly with youth related anti-social behaviour resulting in vandalism to property and vehicles. As a result, there has been increased high visibility police presence and Adrian explained how this, along with home visits to known offenders and other successful projects, has been effective in reducing problems in the area.
The PCSO's work with organisations such as the council, youth services, housing associations and schools, and addressing underlying issues in the case of 'problem kids' is often the key to helping them get back on the right track instead of continuing further into a life of crime. Adrian has built a rapport with the youth in the area and finds the kids appreciate someone taking the time to chat about problems and help that is out there. They tend to have more respect towards the neighbourhood teams than people generally believe. Yes they can get a bit cheeky but mostly in fun, which is kids just being kids and of course there are always the ones who just aren't interested but this is a very small percentage.
In a lot of cases, up-bringing is the major problem...children are simply not being taught common sense, right from wrong, simple manners and social skills due to the environment they are brought up in. This isn't their fault and doesn't mean they are bad kids, and these are the ones the PCSO's like to concentrate on giving some guidance to. They carry leaflets with details of the organisations kids can turn to for help that they might not otherwise know exist, and they see some completely turn their lives around and pursue careers such as in the Army. This, to many PCSO's, is what makes the job worthwhile.
Now aged 29, Adrian has been a PCSO in Middleton for 5 years and is happy to stay just as he is for the time being. While some do opt to move further up the ranks of the police force, many are perfectly content with their role in society and know that other areas of the department would not carry the same job satisfaction. Adrian particularly enjoys the relationship he has with the community and that would be lost in other departments of the police force.
The PCSO's also work alongside organisations to help provide youth facilities such as clubs and recreation areas. Indeed the King George playing fields, little more than a muddy field a year or so ago, has been transformed into a hive of activity with play equipment and a kick-pitch. This was more than being taken advantage of on our little patrol and one can only wonder what all these kids would be up to otherwise. The Co-op on Kenyon Lane has always been a problem area with youths congregating and generally being a nuisance but it is these facilities that help to take another group of kids away from another street corner and contribute to a happier community all round. Our youngsters can also take advantage of the facilities at the Middleton Arena for free on a Friday night so with this and the many youth groups, there is plenty to do compared to a few years ago. The ones still complaining of having nothing to do and no-where to go really have little excuse any more.
Other improvements in the area include the installation of alley-gates to problem areas where youth activity was driving residents to despair. This action has in some cases completely eliminated the problem and as a direct result has had a huge impact on their quality of life. Junction folk also feel that things have generally improved over the last year. Railings have also been installed around Lonsdale Court, another magnet for bored youths. Although there is still room for improvement, progress seems to be well underway.
Adrian is accommodating, polite and approachable and gets on with the community as a whole as well as the youth of the area. Many know him by name and like to stop for a chat as I witnessed on our patrol. An amusing incident occurred on King George field where he suddenly got a 'whiff' of what he was certain was cannabis! And he was more than a little interested as to where this might be coming from but it wasn't easy to pin-point in a field completely surrounded by housing. I do though get the impression that he will be paying particular attention around here for a while!
I asked if he had a 'scariest experience' and despite having been in frightening situations, fear isn't always the most dominating emotion in the heat of the moment. The adrenalin takes over and helps you deal with the situation. It's often only afterwards you think of the danger you could have been in. In fact one of Adrian's most worrying cases was a potential suicide victim. The concern is dealing with the situation in the correct way knowing that their life or death is in your hands. You can only use your initiative to the best of your ability and hope you get it right. In the suicide case, he did.
Adrian works mostly afternoons and evenings starting at 2pm and finishing his shift at midnight before heading home, no doubt on occasions, glad to see the back of Middleton, but he generally loves his job and after spending nearly an hour with me, he swiftly moved on to his next 'appointment' with a member of a Junction community group.
I must admit to having had my eyes opened a little to the diversity of our PCSO's work and how invaluable they are to both the police force and the communities they serve. They may not have the same powers as the police themselves but I for one am always happy to see a PCSO on the beat as opposed to seeing nobody much at all before we had them!
21.02.10
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