Local People
Steve Dodd
My official title is Police Community
Support Officer (PCSO). I have been
a PCSO for 12 years. PCSOs were
introduced under the Policing Reform Act
of 2002 to increase the police presence
on the streets, provide reassurance to the
public and free up the time of regular
police officers. I remember seeing an
article on local TV and thinking to
myself what a good idea it was, to have
a uniform back on the street which
some of us of a certain age remember
well. Cheshire Police introduced the
role in March 2003 - I applied and was
one of the first 6 original PCSOs
and was posted to Risley Police
Station. I have covered the areas
of Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft
for the past ten years following the
first two years posted at Birchwood.
The three areas have fairly similar
issues - however Culcheth is the
biggest area which means I spend
the majority of my time there. Over
the years issues in Culcheth have
greatly changed. When I first started
covering the area there were many
incidents of anti-social behaviour
(ASB) from the young people of the
village and this was resident’s main
concern. I worked with colleagues
to proactively patrol hot spots and
this has seen a massive reduction in
reports of ASB in the area. A youth
club was set up in Croft and Movie
Nights are held every third week
during the winter months for the
young people to engage in.
12
The parts of the job that I enjoy most
are the interactions with the public one lady in Culcheth always tells me
that she feels safer when she sees me
about and I believe that that is what the
spirit of the PCSO role is; being the face
of the Police in the Community. The
funniest incident that I had to deal with
was when the cows escaped from their
field onto Warrington Rd. I was sent to
assess the job and ended up learning
how to herd cows very swiftly! Police
Cow Supervising Officer - a new role
for Cheshire Police. I can honestly say
that I enjoy every aspect of my job even
during the snow in 2010 when I spent 3
hours in 7” of snow seeing people across
Common lane to get to Sainsbury’s for
their provisions.
The main difference between a PCSO
and a Police Constable is that PCs have
the power of arrest.
My main duties and
responsibilities are forging links within
the Community and developing good
working relationships with our partner
Ten issues in Culcheth • Lymm • Great Sankey & Penketh • Chapelford • Stockton Heath & Appleton
Thewlwall, Grappenhall & Latchford • Birchwood • Lowton & Golborne • Newton-le-Willows • Warrington Town