NEWMARKET — The Suffolk Constabulary is rolling out a new policing initiative in which officers will work more closely with members of the public and the U.S. Air Force to combat crime and disorder.
Officers across Suffolk will soon form so-called Safer Neighborhood teams that will focus on closely interacting with citizens by placing “more bobbies on the beat,” according to Suffolk Constabulary Chief Inspector Stuart Sedgwick.
Putting bobbies on the beat roughly translates to moving officers out of their patrol vehicles and on to foot patrols in local villages and towns, he said.
Sedgwick outlined the constabulary’s plans last month ahead of a scheduled June 5 media event in which officers were slated to appeal for increased public cooperation.
The move, however, may prompt officers to devote additional resources to lower level crimes.
“Historically, we’ve been very good at combating traditional crime: burglary, drugs and car crimes,” Sedgwick said.
“But our early indication is that the public wants us to focus on things that may not even be considered traditional crime, but more quality- of-life issues like anti-social behavior, speeding enforcement, noise violations and inconsiderate parking.”
The shift in priorities may translate to fewer officers tracking down home burglary suspects and more resources devoted to issuing parking fines and ensuring hoodies — the British term for loitering adolescents often clad in hooded sweatshirts — are kept in line.
Sedgwick said that officers will soon be hosting “street briefings” on the two largest American Air Force installations in England — RAFs Mildenhall and Lakenheath, both in Suffolk.
An Air Force official said the service has already successfully been working with local constabularies in crime prevention and Safe Neighborhood programs. Both programs help keep the public on and off base informed, Staff Sgt. Rebekah A. Bzdick, 100th Air Refueling Wing resource protection officer, said in an e-mail.
“However, our programs are only effective when we have active participation from the public, so the next time there is an event in your area, make sure to stop by and do your part,” Bzdick wrote.
Sedgwick said constabulary inspectors already hold monthly meetings with Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents, but stressed the street briefing would provide an opportunity for the rank and file to address local policing issues.
Sedgwick said he’s also hoping to reinstitute a program in which members of the 48th Security Forces Squadron joined constabulary officers on the night beat around the Newmarket hot spots.
“The American community is far more likely to be a victim of a crime rather than a suspect,” he said. “They are particularly vulnerable in car crimes, sadly because so many of them leave their cars unlocked at night.”
