Meet the new PCSO patrolling the streets of Bungay

Dave Faulkner being welcomed to the town by Bungay mayor Olly Barnes. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2016)

Dave Faulkner, who has been part of the Eye Safer Neighbourhood Team for the past five years, started as the town’s dedicated police community support officer (PCSO) this week in a role which has been match-funded by the town council.

The 31-year-old, who lives in Norwich with his wife, said he was looking forward to getting to know the town and its residents.

“This is my first time visiting Bungay but I’ve got experience from working in Eye and I will be looking to bring that here,” he said.

“For the first few weeks I will be finding my way around the town and finding out what the public and town council require of me and what I can do to achieve those goals.

“When I was in Eye we covered the town and lots of surrounding villages but it will be good just to focus on one place here and find out what the main issues are.”

Mr Faulkner will work eight hour days patrolling the streets of Bungay in three different shift patterns and will also work one weekend in three.

He said: “I think a visible presence is always a deterrent for crime and it is important to be seen in the community.

“A lot of people are quite reluctant to go into a police station or call up and report something but if they see you out and about they are happy to have a chat.”

The role was previously occupied by Natalie Bellussi who worked as a dedicated PCSO for Bungay for around nine months in the same part-funded position.

And when a shake-up to police teams was announced as part of the Suffolk Local Policing Review, Bungay Town Council decided to take up the opportunity to part-fund a PCSO for the town once again.

The changes, which came into force at the start of the month, mean the Beccles Safer Neighbourhood Team - which covers Bungay and 14 surrounding villages - is now made up of one inspector, based in Lowestoft, one sergeant, two police constables (PCs) and three PCSOs - a reduction from the seven PCSOs previously patrolling the area.

Bungay mayor Olly Barnes said: “We were concerned that the changes could be too much too soon and with our response team based in Lowestoft it didn’t feel like we were going to get the policing we needed.

“So we decided, along with other councils, to put a bit of pressure on Tim Passmore and Gareth Wilson to keep the part-funded roles.

“It’s about having a visible presence in the town and someone working full-time to deal with schools, businesses, parking issues, low level anti-social behaviour and community work.

“We want to provide a feeling of security and a familiar face so residents know that there is someone there they can talk too.”