Mobile police unit suits village community

Oct 2 2009 by Stuart Wilson

Mobile Police Station

SHOP owner Alan Martin is used to being at the centre of village life.

As boss at Dunure’s Village Store, he’s got to know everyone who pops in for their daily loaf of bread.

And he’s delighted to welcome a regular police presence in the shape of PC Bell – sharing a fortnightly cuppa with the cop.

Alan, 41, revealed: “The police unit is very much part of the cycle of the community.

“The beauty of it is having a chat with the officer and it doesn’t seem official – it’s far more relaxed.

“Lots of wee things happen in the village and they’re able to be handled in that manner.

“Anyone who has a concern just has a talk to Bobby when he pops by, so it’s great.”

And PC Bell agrees that the public are less intimidated by a police presence which comes to their community.

He said: “You find that 90 per cent of the time, people would rather deal with this type of policing.

“It works better in the villages because everyone knows everyone and there’s a real sense of community.

“Problems can be sorted quickly and, more than anything, the public just like to see that visible presence.”