Police are just one click away (From Witney Gazette)
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Police are just one click away
9:00am Wednesday 27th September 2006 in Witney
Left to right, Bobby's owner, Liz Mitchell (dressed as a WPC), with PC Reg Nicholson, the council's head of community safety, Bill Oddy, and the police local area commander, Chief Insp Dennis Evernden
ALMOST 13,000 people have logged on to a website to find out who their local bobby is in West Oxfordshire.
Whosmybobby.co.uk was launched last week by a team of police officers who drove a Morris Minor Panda car, called Bobby, from New Scotland Yard in London to Witney - via Downing Street.
Tory leader and Witney MP David Cameron - who himself wants to make more than a fleeting visit to 10 Downing Street - also met Bobby and the team at Chipping Norton.
Less than a week after its launch, police chiefs are hailing the success of the website.
Chief Insp Dennis Evernden, area commander for West Oxfordshire, said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed at the great support Who's My Bobby has received from the public. To achieve almost 13,000 hits to the website since the launch is great news, and we hope this increases further as we continue to promote this new service to communities around West Oxfordshire.
"To the best of my knowledge, we're the first area in the country to provide this kind of service, and we have already had enquiries and interest from other areas, including the Home Office."
Mr Cameron said: "I suspect most people know the name of their GP and their child's teacher; I believe it's essential for communities across the country to know their local police officer too.
"This website will help those who use the Internet find this information and contact their local police team, although it shouldn't replace public engagement and uniformed patrols that provide visible reassurance to communities."
Each parish in West Oxfordshire now has a dedicated Police Neighbourhood Team, and the website enables Internet users in the region to find their local police officer's name and contact details, as well as information on what's happening in the area where they live or work.
The site includes a photo of each officer, so they can be easily recognised.
Raising the profile of the police and helping people to get know your local bobby is all part of the Neighbourhood Management (Policing) programme, which involves working closely with the local community to solve problems.
