Officers lend helping hand to community housing project

Two police officers took time out of their day to lend a helping hand to a community gardening project.

From shovelling gravel to making teas, PC Patrick Shone and PCSO James Mackenzie visited the Layton Borroughs housing complex in Mansfield to help staff and residents with a garden makeover.

Working alongside a team of volunteers from PA Housing and Mansfield District Council, the pair spent several hours at the site as they worked to build trust and confidence with residents.

Speaking on Wednesday 1 May, PC Shone, beat manager for the Ladybrook policing team, said:

“This is an area we regularly visit to build relationships with residents and address any problems that are reported to us.

“Often, however, we are in this area for all the wrong reasons, so it was really nice to spend some time contributing something so positive and getting the garden ready for spring and summer.

“Part of our role as neighbourhood officers is of course to fight crime and catch criminals, but it is also to get involved with and work alongside the community we serve.

“By doing that we increase the trust they have in us and gain more intelligence about what’s happening in the local community – which helps us to respond effectively when we are required.

“Last week’s project was very hard work, but it was also extremely enjoyable, and I’d like to thank the team at PA Housing and the residents for inviting us down.”