ISSUES on Grange ward have changed significantly in the past few years.

But despite the obvious improvements, new Grange Safer Neighbourhood Team member, PC Gary Waterman wants to build on this for the future.

The priorities the team is dealing with include drugs, youth-related antisocial behaviour and bikes without lights.

PC Waterman, pictured inset, said: “These issues are not posing a huge problem, but they are something that needs to be dealt with and we are doing that. I’m not the sort of person who wants to sit around talking about what we should do for hours. I’m a doer. And that’s how you win confidence from people – by being seen to be doing something.”

Since Gary joined the team, which includes PSCOs Tim Diggens and Bev Baker in January, three warrants and a search have been carried out, with positive finds on all occasions and prosecution of those involved.

“We won’t tolerate it. And the people of Grange ward won’t either”, Gary added.

“To get it straight, these are not huge problems – Grange ward has improved massively – but I’ve been getting the message that confidence has dropped a little and that is something we are working on.”