‘It’s all about engagement and helping where we can’

DEDICATED: Sergeant Andy Waller. Pictures by Tom Arran Commercial Photography

Police forces across the country are celebrating their community work as part of Neighbourhood Policing Week. Simon Bristow spent time with one officer from Humberside Police’s Northern NPT in Orchard Park

“Problem-solving is kind of our main area,” says Sergeant Andy Waller, as we head out on a bright winter’s morning onto the streets of Orchard Park.

“It could be anything from a neighbour dispute to antisocial behaviour, graffiti, or drug-dealing. And visibility is key, and community engagement.”

He is explaining the priorities and approach of Northern Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), which covers the three Hull wards of Orchard Park, University, and Beverley & Newland.

Each ward is “unique” with its own needs and challenges, Sgt Waller says, and he knows this one intimately, not just working here but also having grown up in the area.

As we begin the patrol it becomes apparent that the much lamented demise of the “Beat Bobby”, according to some perceptions, is wide of the mark, because here and across the Humberside Police area, neighbourhood officers are out in their communities, talking to residents, identifying their issues, providing reassurance, and doing what they can to help.

Sgt Waller’s team is comprised of two constables per ward, with six community support officers spread across the three wards. They of course work closely with neighbouring teams, and there are 79 NPTs across the force area.

“We are a small but dedicated team,” Sgt Waller said.

It is not all softly softly, either, with the power of enforcement brought to bear when necessary – just a few hours earlier Sgt Waller and his colleagues were executing a drugs warrant on the estate.

But for now he is back in the community with the emphasis on engagement, and it is not long before a chance encounter demonstrates what the role is all about.

COMMUNITY HUB: Bob Beautyman, left, and Sergeant Andy Waller, at City of Hull Boxing Club in Orchard Park

A young boy is sitting on a bicycle outside the parade of shops on Ellerburn Avenue. He is bright and confident and asks Sgt Waller if he knows a named officer, which of course he does.

Asked how the boy knows them, he says it’s because they “come to check on my dad”. His age prompts the inevitable question of why he is not in school, to which the boy says he has been “thrown out” for committing an offence, the nature of which if true would land him in a youth court.

The exchange attracts the attention of passers-by, who the boy is keen to tell he is “not in trouble” and “just talking”. The message from Sgt Waller is reinforced by other adults who tell the boy he “should be in school”.

He gives his name to Sgt Waller, who says he will speak to the school to see if they will take him back.

It is one boy on one estate whose future is in the balance, but he now has at least one advocate trying to get him back to where he needs to be.

One of the team’s priorities over the last 18 months has been to look out for children at risk of criminal exploitation as part of an initiative under the Serious Organised Crime Fund. The boy we have just spoken to is a prime example.

Sgt Waller explains how easily he could be drawn into the influence of a criminal gang just by being asked to run a small errand in return for money.

ON THE BEAT: Sergeant Andy Waller, right, with Simon Bristow of The Hull Story

“It’s about early intervention and diverting young people away and giving them meaningful activities,” Sgt Waller said.

“Where there are areas of deprivation there aren’t a lot of activities for them to do, so they hang around on street corners or outside a parade of shops, and that’s putting them at risk. Potentially, they might be getting these young people to hold and run drugs on their behalf to lower the risk to them [criminals].

“For us it’s how we safeguard these children through early intervention and finding them meaningful things to do.

“There’s a tiered approach to how we identify where children are so we can signpost them to the right areas and offer the right support. It might be working with partners such as social services, housing, schools. There’s a big partnership-working ethic.”

One place where young people are being diverted to is to City of Hull Boxing Club, which is based behind a cafe and is a community hub.

The club also works with Hull FC on its Set Restart project, which is for young adults aged between 14 and 29 on Orchard Park.

“They are supporting children from HU6 with multi-sports sessions,” Sgt Waller said of the project, on which police are also involved. “They’ve got activities and we know where they are. It builds bridges and breaks down barriers with the children and makes the police more approachable.

GOOD DEALS: The Sports Traider store, a charity offering discount deals on designer brands

“The children have now been asking for police officers and they are on first-name terms.”

There’s also an Impact Hub at local secondary school Sirius Academy, which supports children who are struggling with mainstream education.

“That’s a really big project and we’ve had some really positive results with it,” Sgt Waller said.

The boxing club is quiet at the moment but attracts more than 100 members of all ages during the week, and also hosts a ladies’ box-fit session. On Mondays an Andy’s Man Club meets in a classroom upstairs. This is a group which provides a safe environment for men to discuss issues they face.

In the office upstairs is Bob Beautyman, director of City of Hull Sport and Community Group, its head of education, and also a qualified boxing coach.

Asked why the sport is good for young people, Bob said: “Boxing is a sport that involves discipline, gives the kids that focus, and promotes health and wellbeing.

“It gives them a way of channelling their aggression and emotions in a positive way. We are also a hub for the community.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Sergeant Andy Waller

The club’s draw and reputation is wider than the estate and city, and in a classroom are two teenage boys from Baysgarth School in Barton, studying sports leadership qualifications with tutor Richard White. They will undertake the practical part of their learning in the gym.

“This is where all the magic happens,” says Bob as he walks into the gym to talk to Sgt Waller. The pair are old friends and played football together.

Also among the Ellerburn shops is Sports Traider, a charity discount store selling brand names at just £5 per item. It’s another way of supporting the area, with proceeds going back into the community.

We head back to the station, where Sgt Waller will prepare for the afternoon ward tasking meeting, a monthly multi-agency meeting attended by representatives of the police, council, housing, youth offending team, antisocial behaviour officers, and others.

The group will discuss the ward’s priorities and agree which agency will take the lead on tackling a particular issue.

“You are never going to help someone if you try to do it on your own,” Sgt Waller said.

“Things can take time but we’re making a difference and the estate has got better over the last couple of years. It’s got a better feel to it.”