The Gresford and Marford Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) have had a busy 2009. This has included a fresh face to the team. In January we said goodbye to PC Kay Muldoon who moved after eight years in post as Gresford and Marford Community Beat Manager. PC Nicola Gaskell joined us in March as the new Community Beat Manager.

PC Kay Muldoon	PC Nicola Gaskell

 In April we held our first Partnerships and Communities Together (PACT) meeting where we discussed priorities for the Police and other partnerships in the local community. On 4th June we held an ‘Arrive Alive’ event with the Year 6 children at the Rofft School.  This was speed education initiative not just for the pupils but also for the drivers who could see first hand the children who used the route on a daily basis to and from school.
Also in June the NPT funded a trip to a skate park in conjunction with the Youth Club and Detached Youth Workers. This helped improve relations between the young people and the new Policing Team.  It was a very successful and enjoyable day all round.

The Skate Park in Stockport	One of the Lads showing off!

The NPT attended the Gresford Trust 60th Anniversary on August 31st and stole the show by arranging the North Wales Police Helicopter (NW1) to attend.  The event was a spectacular success and we met numerous people, young and old from the local community.

The NWP helicopter lands at the Gresford Trust

During the summer holidays the Gresford & Marford NPT worked closely with the Llay NPT and arranged a large scale football tournament that took place over 4 weeks.  It consisted of over 20 teams from surrounding villages and was highlighted on the Final night by the North Wales Police team ‘face off’ against the Youth Service team.   We also managed to get some of the lads from Wrexham Football Club to attend and present trophies to the winners.

In September we had a Tidy Wales day and worked in conjunction with the All Saints School, Gresford doing a litter pick in and around Allington Park.

During ‘mischief season’ in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night the NPT help fund a trip to Alton Towers with the young people from the Youth Club. This was great fun and created a diversionary activity on what can be a night filled with anti-social behaviour.  We are pleased to say that we had no reported incidents of anti-social behaviour over this period.

In November we welcomed back PCSO Wendy Harris from maternity leave. November also brought us the awesome bonfire displays provided by the Gresford Trust and also the brilliant Blue Light Disco that took place in Llay. The Blue Light Disco was in association with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police and was aimed at youngsters under the age of 16. It was very well attended by children from all over the Wrexham North area in some ‘spook-tacular’ costumes.
In the final month of 2009 we attended both Christmas Fairs at the Rofft and All Saints School. We also attended the Rofft Carol Concert at All Saints Church.

For 2010 we have many things planned such as our Operation Cinnamon, a multi-agency initiative led by North Wales Police aimed at providing support, reassurance and advice on a whole range of aspects to over 60s in the community. 

Take care,
All the best for 2010,
PC Nicola Gaskell,
PCSO Scott Noble &