How a Southampton local bobby catches crooks and criminals

In recent years Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has been pushing to bring local bobbies back in force to help make residents feel safer in their community.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary now has 650 more officers than it did three years ago.

Local bobby, PC Simon Peacock, is the Designated Neighbourhood Officer (DNO) for Hamble, Netley and Bursledon – he has been employing numerous different tactics to keep a lid on crime in his area.

The Echo has been out on a daily patrol with PC Peacock to find out what he is doing to keep residents safe on his patch.

As the DNO scheme has only just come into force on February 1, PC Peacock said that the first way he wanted to engage with resident was to “wear the big hat.”

A staple of the local bobby, the officer said: “The residents really enjoy the big, old fashioned police hat – I've been walking around with the hat and that is how I’m now being recognised.

“Part of making people feel safe is to know that your present within the local community – wearing the big hat makes me instantly recognisable to residents.”

Starting his patrol in Netley – PC Peacock said that in the second half of January a spate of car thefts occurred in a short space of time deeply concerning Netley residents.  

Speaking with the locals and carrying out enquiries – PC Peacock was able to track down the CCTV of the perpetrator, with his face clearly visible, and said that he has since been charged with the thefts.

Jamie Bruce Dixon, 28, of Staplehurst Close, was arrested in Southampton shortly after 8am on Wednesday, January 30, and charged with theft of motor vehicle, two counts of fraud by false representation and burglary

He was subsequently remanded in custody, appearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 6.

It follows incidents reported in Denzil Avenue, Netley Abbey on Friday, January 19 and Neptune Way, Southampton on Saturday, November 11.

After checking in with the Netley Parish Council – to make sure any Issues were on his radar – PC Peacock headed to Hamble for his next patrol.

As reported in the Echo on Saturday, a group of teens found their way inside Hamble Primary School, trashing one of the classrooms over the half term.

An account from one of the officers involved stated: “A classroom was found to have been left in a complete mess, with paper and school equipment strewn across the floor.

“Red paint was spilled over a table, a tyre was brought into the room with food and drink packaging left discarded in several places.”

PC Peacock said that although the children were a nuisance, no crimes were committed and teens involved wanted a place to hang out, have a laugh and listen to music.

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In order to stop incidents such as these PC Peacock is working in partnership with the local councils to build a new community shelter in each ward of his patch.

He said: “When speaking to teens in Hamble, Bursledon and Netley they tell me they want more shelters in community spaces for them to hang out – which should, in turn, stop incidents such as the one at Hamble Primary as they will have an area to go and blow off steam.”

PC Peacock also visits Hamble Secondary School, once a week, to meet with students that have been identified by staff as potentially benefiting from speaking to a local bobby.

He added: “There are over 900 students at Hamble Secondary School – I see the same 10 every week.

“I also see those same students out and about while on patrol. It’s a great way to get to know the local community and steer some of those teens in the right direction.”

While on patrol in Hamble, PC Peacock stopped in at the Co-op store on Hamble High Street.

Speaking to the store general manager, PC Peacock found out that two teenagers had stolen vegetables from the store and through them at residents enjoying drinks outside on the High Street, during the half term.

He also found out that three shoplifters had been stealing beer on Wednesday night, February 14.

A new system was set up by PC Peacock to help local shops on his patch deal with thieves.

PC Peacock added: “Shopkeepers told us they were fed up with shoplifters not being dealt with and returning the next day.

“Some of these shoplifters steal to get money to buy drugs – which helps to fund organised crime.

“I told the shopkeepers exactly what is required for someone to be charged with a crime.

“That includes a statement and the CCTV – I can then quality check and transfer it onto the correct official documents.

“We then identify the suspect within 24 hours and within 48 hours, the suspect has a court date.

“It has been incredibly effective.”

The Co-op manager agreed that the new system had been incredibly helpful in stopping regular basket runners. 

PC Peacock said that he found his calling with neighbourhood policing and said he encourages all residents on his patch to stop and say hello if they spot him out and about.