As an animal lover and dog owner, I understand the heartbreak of losing a family pet and I abhor the opportunist increase in dog theft that has evolved during the pandemic. Of course, penalties for offenders should be more severe to act as a deterrent to...
Police numbers are really important.
We know that because we saw the impact it had when the number of officers nationally was cut by 20,000 – a figure that did not include the many support staff and other Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) also lost at that time.
When I read Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk’s column in the Echo, which began ‘All crimes matter’, I thought I could not have put it better myself.
Then it occurred to me that actually I had, on page 27 of the same newspaper.
Two Gloucestershire police stations, earmarked for closure a decade ago, will be open to the public once more.
Lydney Police Station in the Forest of Dean, which was re-opened a year ago, is now trialling a public reception.
Barton Street in Gloucester will follow suit as soon as the building has been adapted to receive visitors.