Police officers will be calling in to post offices

Community support officers will be on hand to offer crime prevention and security advice as part of a new initiative.

The scheme is designed to give people more opportunities to meet and speak to police officers.

Chief Superintendent Mabs Hussain, district commander of Wakefield District Police, said: “As a policing service we are always keen to make the best of any opportunities to improve engagement with residents, and are very pleased to be working with the Post Office on this new initiative.

“Post Offices are key community hubs which residents particularly the elderly and vulnerable, regularly visit.

“This makes them ideal places for officers to interact with the public and provides us with additional opportunities to make ourselves more accessible to those who may need our services the most.”

PCSOs will call in to post offices in Featherstone, Airedale, South Elmsall, Hemsworth, Sharlston, Havercroft, Castleford and Pontefract during their patrols.

Chf Supt Hussain said: “Our officers will be on hand at the busiest times of day to offer crime prevention and security advice and have a general chat with visitors who want to speak with them.

“Experience suggests this initiative has been very popular elsewhere and we are pleased to bring it to West Yorkshire.”

Senior Post Office security manager Amy Quirk added: “The Post Office remains at the heart of communities up and down the country. And we are happy to provide locations in West Yorkshire for the police to utilise in terms of liaising with customers and conveying key security messages.”

For more information about the district’s policing, visit www.westyorkshire.police.uk