Police post offers first-class service

Date published: 27 August 2010

Contact with the police has never been easier for people in the Broadoak and Smallshaw areas of Ashton.

At 10am on (Thursday, August 26), Cllr Alan Whitehead, chair of Smallshaw/Hurst and St Michael’s Partnership, will open a police post at Broadoak Community Centre, Broadoak Road, with David Heyes, the MP for Ashton, and Insp Tony Alogba.

The post, staffed by ECO (Enquiry Counter Officer) Hayley McCaffer, is a convenient place to report crimes or neighbourhood incidents.

Hayley will also be able to offer information on a range of services, from training and employment to joining the Cash Box Credit Union.

Opening hours are 9am to 1.30pm and 2.15pm to 5pm (Monday and Friday), 10am to 1.30pm and 2.15pm to 6pm (Tuesday) and noon to 4pm and 4.45pm to 8pm (Wednesday and Thursday).

A 24-hour telephone at the main entrance to Broadoak Community Centre is available for all other times.

After the centre has been opened, the dignitaries will sign the Smallshaw - Hurst Neighbourhood Agreement, which aims to improve satisfaction with the area,

Its priorities are to improve the attractiveness of the local environment, increase public perception and confidence in relation to crime, increase the skills of residents, influence local decision-making and reduce health inequalities.

Cllr Whitehead said: “I am very pleased with this further development in the services we can offer to the public. The police post is an absolute boon to community safety in the area and provides people with a purpose-built convenient drop-in centre.”