Community Action Teams

The benefit of having locally based police officers who know their area, their community and the local problems is all too evident. However, today police resources are stretched by many competing demands such that it not possible to return to the days of providing each small community with its own dedicated team of officers. To alleviate this problems the Cheshire Constabulary introduced Community Action Teams (CAT) in July 2001. These are small teams of officers who will be locally based with the time and ability to tackle local problems in the long term. In the first full year of activity they have had much success and are now an integral part of the Vale Royal Community Safety Strategy.

The Vale Royal Borough area is divided into thre policing units - Winsford, Northwich and Rural, based on Frodsham. Each unit has an Inspector who have responsibilty for the CAT in his/her area. Each CAT has a Sergeant and a number of Constables, each of whom has responsibility for a particular area, and they will form a problem solving team who will identify local problems through contact with community representatives and information from the public at large. They will then develop solutions which may involve high profile policing activity as well as acting in liaison with other agencies (Vale Royal Borough Council, Probation, Fire, etc.) The CATs will work very closely with the new Community Safety Wardens.

Overall the Crime and Disorder Unit based at Northwich headed by Inspector Mark Watson will co-ordinate community safety mattersand provide a direct link with the Community Safety Partnership. Besides the Inspector, this unit consists of a Sergeant, a WATCH officer, a Business Watch Officer, an Information Officer and a Community Safety Officer (CSO) for Vale Royal.

Crime and Disorder Unit Northwich Police Station 0845 458 0000	Inspector Mark Watson Sergeant Alison Wheeler WATCH Officer - Liz Biddle (01244 614291) Business Watch Officer - (01244 613269) Information Officer Steve Connell
Winsford Policing Unit Tel: 0845 458 6391 winsford.cat@cheshire.pnn.police.uk	Inspector Brian Roberts Ring for non urgent, local advice. Leave a brief message with your name & contact no, your local officer will return your call. This is an ansaphone
Northwich Policing Unit Tel: 0845 458 6392 northwich.cat@cheshire.pnn.police.uk	Inspector Peter Minhghella Ring for non urgent, local advice. Leave a brief message with your name & contact no, your local officer will return your call. This is an ansaphone
Frodsham Policing Unit Tel: 0845 458 6377 frodsham.cat@cheshire.pnn.police.uk	Inspector Phil Hodgson Ring for non urgent, local advice. Leave a brief message with your name & contact no, your local officer will return your call. This is an ansaphone

IF YOU REQUIRE THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF AN OFFICER:
Please ring Northwich Police Station (0845 458 0000) and ask to be connected to the Congleton and Vale Royal control room.