Gotcha! Police officers nab themselves a cuppa
STAFF at Lincolnshire Co-op food stores are being encouraged to welcome in local police officers on patrol for tea and biscuits to forge closer links.
The initiative, called It's a Fair Co-op of Tea, was launched in Lincolnshire Co-operative's county food outlets on Saturday.
Police and community support officers will be able to pop into a store to have a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee in the staff room during their breaks. This will make it more convenient for the officers to take breaks and save them from travelling to a police station.
As well as saving officers' travel time, enabling them to be out and about for longer, the scheme aims to build relationships between store staff, customers and the police.
Security manager at Lincolnshire Co-operative, Mark Foulds, said: "Giving police officers a chance to have their 'comfort breaks' in our stores means they don't have to go back to a police station during their shift, which in rural areas can take valuable time."
The Ruskington Neighbourhood Policing Team came along for the launch at Ruskington's Co-op store.
PC Derek Daniels said: "It's ideal for us because it means we don't have to leave our beat. People want to see us out and about and it's all about us delivering on local issues for local people."
Ruskington store manager Matt Brown said: "I think our customers will really appreciate seeing officers around the store. We're proud to support our local policing team in their duties."
The scheme will eventually be extended into Lincolnshire Co-operative's food stores in the Nottinghamshire Police area as well.
Chief Inspector Mark Housley of Lincolnshire Police welcomed the new scheme. He said: "We are acutely aware of the concerns of people in the community regarding police being in cars and not accessible. Lincolnshire Police have worked hard to deliver neighbourhood policing into every ward and parish in the county, with considerable success.
"This offer from one of our leading retailers is gratefully received as being a constructive and positive commitment from local business to the wider community."
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Weather for Sleaford
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to -2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
