Policing in the Village

Message from our Beat Officer, PC George Korol, who is retiring on the 28th February, 2006

Roger, the months pass and I now look to my final dozen or so shifts to complete at work before bowing out of policing Bolton By Bowland and the Ribble valley. When the uniform is removed at 3pm on Tuesday 28th February
this year, it will mark the end of an era for me.The large part of my adult life has been targetted at Policing since
walking into Lancashire Constabulary headquarters at Hutton near Preston in September 1974 as a fresh faced naive recruit. I am luckier than most.I attended the retirement function of a colleague at Burnley at the end of
January. He remarked on the good old days of the late seventies and early eighties. This seemed a little strange, as the best days from my service are probably found in the last four or five years. The time spent policing this
area.My two sons show no interest in policing as a profession. The eldest, Andrew, is in the latter stages of his apprenticeship as an electrician. He chose that vocation after watching a sparky working at a friends property at
Skirden, Bolton By Bowland. Matthew the younger of the pair is still enjoying schooling at Clitheroe grammar school and is showing a strange interest in accident investigation. No, not road policing! Air accident investigation! To each their own.
I have discussed the prospect of my replacement with Inspector Jennie Coulston today. The post will be advertised within the division next week asking for expressions of interest. She asked for my views as to a possible
replacement, I told her who would be my choice at Clitheroe Police station. If that officer applies and is granted the post, I leave you in safe hands. I am in the latter stages of purchasing my Police house at Gisburn, so will
live in the area following retirement.

All the best to the residents of the village in the future,

George Korol.

The formal message about policing in our community:

The following is an update of policing issues which directly affect the residents of Bolton-by-Bowland from PC 127 George Korol

The villages of Bashall Eaves, Waddington, West Bradford, Grindleton, Chatburn, Downham, Worston, Twiston, Rimington, Sawley, Gisburn, Tosside, Paythorn, Bolton-by-Bowland, Slaidburn, Newton, Dunsop Bridge, Whitewell, Cowark, Lane Ends and Holden are policed by five officers based at Chatburn. These officers work a shift rota which covers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Normally at any one time, with the exception of leave periods, there is a rural beat officer working.
Additionally these officers frequently work in Clitheroe and the Whalley areas when the police strength there is depleted.

Each of the five rural beat officers at Chatburn have specific areas of responsibility. These correspond with the old beats. For example I am responsible for Bolton By Bowland, Paythorne, Holden, Tosside. On going problems, such as juvenile nuisance are, initially assessed by the officer responsible for a particular area. It would then be a team effort to try and resolve the issues. Lack of continuity because of the shift rota and conflicting problems in other areas can sometimes limit the police response to complaints.

Unfortunately this is not the perfect system but it is the best solution for the finite resources available.

With this in mind residents are encouraged to be vigilant at all times. The five rural beat officers cannot be every where at once and it is of great help when residents, who perhaps complain of juvenile nuisance, are prepared to provide written statements about individuals who are active in demonstrating anti social behaviour.

Overall we are fortunate to live in a village like Bolton-by-Bowland where crime levels are low. Most crime involved vehicles, and are believed to have been committed by travelling criminals.

Should anyone with to discuss the issues raised above, or have other topics they would like to bring to my notice, then I can be contacted on my voice mail number which is 01200-458718 or my mobile 07734-317270. Bear in mind I often work nights and it may be some days before I can recontact you.

In the event of an emergency please ring 999. If a resident requires an immediate response then 01200 443344 should be rung and a rural beat officer will attend as soon as possible.

Thank you for reading this article.

George Korol