Police team will send their news direct to households

BARNSTAPLE folk will soon be receiving all the news that s fit to print from their local policemen. Success stories, appeals, incidents, contact information and advice will all appear in the newsletters which will be posted through every letterbox. The im

BARNSTAPLE folk will soon be receiving all the news that's fit to print from their local policemen.

Success stories, appeals, incidents, contact information and advice will all appear in the newsletters which will be posted through every letterbox.

The improved form of communication is the idea of the Barnstaple Police neighbourhood beat team.

Each newsletter will contain an easy to complete application form to join the community messaging service which is already widely used by a large number of residents within the Barnstaple area.

Community messages contain information that can range from crime appeals, to broadcasting successes when either offenders are arrested for crimes, or that police have taken action in response to concerns from the public.

The application form is very simple to complete, and can be handed to members of the local police team, or passed over the counter at Barnstaple police station.

The messages are sent via either a telephone landline or a mobile phone, and are free to receive.

Sergeant James Tarr: a neighbourhood team leader for Barnstaple, said: "Community messaging has proved very effective in sending information to the large number of people who have signed up to the scheme, and the speed that this is done can be vital in identifying suspects or property quickly".

"The introduction of this scheme has proved once again that Barnstaple fully supports its local police officers, and that confidence towards them from the town remains high.".