Police trial could help to tackle crime Show off your moves
Cops‘adopt’Fauldhouse Post Office
Police Scotland have launched a new trial scheme to tackle crime in Fauldhouse.
The ‘Adopt a Post Office’ initiative, launched on Wednesday, October 26, will see officers hold surgeries in the Main Street for three months.
During that time members of the public will be able to meet face-to-face with cops inside the Post Office to get safety advice and raise issues relating to criminality in the area.
Fauldhouse is the first town in West Lothian to take part in the scheme but the police hope it can be rolled out across the county.
Sergeant John Jackson of the Community Safety Unit, said: “This scheme has already proven its worth in England and Wales in creating positive links with communities.
“This is the first time that Adopt a Post Office has been trialled in West Lothian and the recent formation of ‘ Fauldhouse Watch’ means that residents can get messages and advice face-to-face from a local officer or electronically if they sign up to Neighbourhood Watch.
“Importantly, it allows us to be more visible within our communities and at Post Offices, which are often the focal point of many everyday activities.
“This is a mutually beneficial scheme that helps us tackle crime in the area as well as an opportunity for members of the public to meet with officers.
“It also allows us to support specific groups of people who may be more vulnerable such as the elderly and those who do not generally use social media where many of our messages now feature.
“We want our communities to feel comfortable approaching local officers and being able to speak to them faceto-face.”
This will enable Police Scotland’s partners including Trading Standards, Fire Service and Neighbourhood Watch ( NHW) to use the scheme alongside the local community officers.
West Lothian Council’s Executive councillor for services for the community, George Paul, commented: “I welcome the introduction of the Adopt a Post Office scheme in Fauldhouse, which will provide another important channel for local people to find out about public safety messages.
“It is a great example of partnership working between the public sector and the Post Office.”
Meanwhile, Head of Security Operations at the Post Office, Amy Quirk, added: “We are always looking to create new partnerships with the police which will benefit not just our two organisations, but the community as a whole.
“The Post Office remains at the heart of communities up and down the country, and we are happy to provide locations for Police Scotland to utilise in terms of liaising with customers and conveying key security messages.” Dancers of all backgrounds and abilities are invited to show off their best moves for a new online competition, When I Dance, launched by Parkinson’s UK.
When I Dance celebrates the joy and positive impact that dance can bring, and is inspired by the many people living with Parkinson’s who regularly take part in dance activities.
The competition aims to raise awareness of Parkinson’s and the benefits of dance for people with the condition, and offers entrants the chance to win some amazing prizes.
The contest, open to entrants aged 12 years or over, has three competition categories: solo, groups and Parkinson’s dance groups.
The competition, which can be entered by uploading a one to three-minute video on the When I Dance website, is open from November 9 to November 30.
Entries will be judged by a panel of dance chore o g raphers and teachers and winners will be announced on December 16.
Ta n i a D i g g o r y o f Parkinson’s UK, adds: “We hope this competition will inspire people to get involved and support a charity doing vital work at the same time.”
Full details including entry terms and conditions, can be found at www.wheni dance.uk
We want our communities to feel comfortable approaching local officers