Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 52

interview

Island Life - December 2010

Photo: Isle of Wight police commander Superintendent
Norman Mellors at Newport Police Station

work much more in a collaborative and
co-operative way in the community. We

Norman Mellors, aged 20, in action during a
circuit race in London in 1978

sort of work that I joined the force for.”
He added: “There is evidence to

per cent, but for me one crime is one
too many and it is professionally my

consult and ask the community what

suggest we are under pressure with

ambition to continue to reduce crime as

we should be prioritizing - what do tax

regard to crime levels, and it is

much as I can for as long as I can.”

payers want us to focus on?

increasing, which we have not seen for

“So the difference is light years in

several years. It is only one and two

many respects. Professionalism has also
increased, but that hasn’t made life
easier because if you make a mistake
or overlook something, the issues are
questioned in a court and quite rightly
so. It is a different way of policing.”
Mr. Mellors is responsible for over
300 staff, but his experience is such
that he is able to enjoy that type of
responsibility. Although his position
now entails numerous meetings and
sitting at a desk reading reports,
interpreting statistics and managing
budgets, he admits: “At times like
Christmas and New Year’s Eve, or at the
Festival and Bestival, it is nice to put
body armour on, pick up a radio and go
on patrol just to experience again the
52

Photo: Norman Mellors at Lyndhurst Police Station in the New Forest
in 1999 when he was a Community Safety Inspector
Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com