Police Information Point for Wendover Library

THIS MONTH (July) sees the start of new partnership between Wendover Community Library and Thames Valley Police. For the next six months the library, which was set up as a community Trust in 2012, will become a Community Police base.

The project will run initially as a six-month trial, after which the success of the service will be assessed jointly by BCC Library Service, Wendover Community Library Trust and Thames Valley Police.

Wendover is one of growing number of community libraries in Buckinghamshire that are finding new ways to bring services to local people.

Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health at Buckinghamshire County Council, said: “This is a great example of linking up with local partners to improve services and get more from our community facilities. It will not result in any extra costs for the library but with easier access to advice, increased police visibility and opportunities for volunteers – there are benefits for the whole community.”

The Police Information Point will be staffed by Thames Valley Police trained volunteers and members of the local policing team.

Janet Webb, Library Operations Manager,said: “With ever more pressures on budgetsfinding cost effective ways to maintain a community policing presence and build better relationships with the public has to be a good thing – using community facilities is an ideal way to do this.

“Having a Police Information point in familiar surroundings like a library can be of particular benefit to older members of the community as well as anyone who may find the idea of contacting the police formally or walking into a police station a bit daunting.”

The Police Information Point will be open for two hours a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, between 10.00am and 12.00.