The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has hailed community policing as a major success after being out on the beat in St Asaph.
Winston Roddick CB QC joined Police Community Support Officer Rachael Williams as she patrolled the UK’s newest city on a sunny afternoon.
Mr Roddick discovered that he had the 27 year old PCSO had something in common – they both started their jobs in the same week in November 2012.
Their arrivals coincided with the devastating flood that engulfed hundreds of homes and led to the death of a pensioner.
PCSO Williams, who previously worked in social services, always wanted to join North Wales Police and had been a Special Constable and done a Foundation Degree in policing before signing up.
She said: “Two days after I started was when the floods happened. I was on an early shift so we came straight here.
“We got straight in. I was up to my waist in water and I worked 12 hours and it was really, really cold.
“But the response we got was amazing and the community spirit here was incredible.
“We had good leadership and we were all given specific duties and we worked in good partnership with the Fire Service.
“It was a devastating thing that happened but I think on the back of that the positive thing that came of it is that we built a really good relationship with the community in St Asaph.
“It brought the community together. A lot of groups have been set up to support victims and residents that live near the flood area. We’ve got a lot of groups that have been set up specifically to offer support so it’s really good.”
Mr Roddick was also very new in the job when the floods hit St Asaph and the Glasdir Estate in Ruthin.
He had just arrived in Cardiff for a meeting when the scale of the disaster became clear.
Mr Roddick recalled: “I turned around and drove all the way back and that’s where I spent my first week in office was getting about the flooded areas and meeting the flood victims and the emergency services.
“Rachael gained more experience I would think in that short period of time, that week than she would get in a life time of patrolling because it was a disaster and disasters bring people together and togetherness is an essential element of the success of PCSOs.
“It was a steep learning curve for both of us. It was an eye-opener for me but it was also a good opportunity for me to observe at first hand and with my own eyes the emergency services working together, in partnership, for the good of the community.
“I have put partnership working at the top of my list in my strategic plan because I saw it in operation and I know from that experience how essential it is for the safety of the community.
“People like Rachael are the public face of policing in North Wales. Community support officers are the success they are because they are liked and loved by the community and because they create a real relationship between the police and the community.
“They are the link between the warranted officers and the community. People speak to them, they like to speak to them and they invite them into their communities and they become part of the community.”
PCSO Williams added: “I think the role, particularly as a PCSO, is all about helping people, working in partnership with other agencies and being able to make a difference in communities.
“As a Special Constable, I had worked alongside the PCSOs so I knew what to expect and I really, really enjoy my job.
“I love being able to work with people and it’s not just reactive, it’s prevention as well. So we do help people a lot.
“I get a lot of job satisfaction. We get a chance to go into schools and speak to the children. We speak to elderly people and organise events for them and activities. So we’re not just dealing with problems, we’re dealing with building relationships with the communities as well.
“We can help nip any problems in the bud and prevention of crime is really important. If we prevent something happening in the first place then we’ve done our job.”
