Delight at area’s new police team

Photo: Darren Robinson

Saddleworth police on parade at Uppermill police station. PIC shows (back) L-R: PC Lee Cullen, PC Mark Clough, PCSO Jennifer Ballagher (CORRECT), PCSO Wayne Turley, PCSO Mark Detheridge, PCSO Rachel Woodhouse, PC Stuart Bielawski, PCSO Monica Rowley, PCSO Mike Lowther, PCSO Lorna Conway, PC Jonny Marsden, PCSO Lee Lockwood. FRONT: Sergeant Neil Barker and Inspector Mohammed Anwar.

DELIGHTED villagers have welcomed an initiative which means a more visible police presence across Saddleworth.

Inspector Bash Anwar is heading up a unit which includes a sergeant, three police constables and nine PCSOs.

Newly appointed Inspector Anwar, who is responsible for policing in Saddleworth and Lees, said the job was like “a dream come true”, adding: “I’m looking forward to working with the communities.”

“I have already been out on patrol in Uppermill and met some of the locals, who seem to have kindly accepted me already.”

Inspector Anwar, an officer with Greater Manchester Police for 14 years, has served mainly with front-line policing in Rochdale, Ashton and force headquarters.

He said: “I will listen closely to those issues which affect our communities and really want to make a difference to people’s lives, making Saddleworth an even better place to live.”

Cllr Neil Allsopp, chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council, said: “It’s excellent news that we now have Sgt Neil Barker and the other PCs and PCSOs dedicated to Saddleworth.

“We’ve been calling for a stronger police presence for quite some time.”

Working with Homewatch, Love Lydgate is hosting an event on Wednesday, May 25, at 7.30pm at the White Hart Hotel supported by GMP and OMBC when the public can meet community officers PC Lee Cullen, crime prevention adviser Mike Fleming and a member of the PCSO team.