New copper for Stroud

Stroud Life covered the appointment of our new policeman, Adrian Smith - I happened to catch him having his photo taken outside the Sub Rooms - did try and take the opportunity to raise some local issues like the damage done by sledging and how that could be reduced in future - but it wasn't the right time - I will hopefully get a chance in the weeks to come. Below the Stroud Life report:

Photos: thistles at Thistledown - with all the thistle down floating you can see why it gets in name - and below a moth

New sergeant leads 14-strong beat team

NEW Stroud police sergeant Adrian Smith is heading up a team that is pounding the beat around the town and neighbouring villages. He is leading the Stroud safer communities team, which covers the town and areas including Birdlip, Bisley, Bussage, Aston Down, Minchinhampton, Cashes Green, Randwick and Ruscombe.

"Stroud's a great town and a safe place to live," he said. "What we are here for is to listen to people's concerns so we can act on them. People shouldn't worry about bothering us with incidents they consider small. If people don't tell us, we won't know."

The team consists of Sgt Smith, four constables and nine police community support officers, who have policing priorities in particular areas. Those include speeding on roads leading to Bisley and on Rodborough Hill, dog fouling in Minchinhampton, litter in the Paganhill estate and parking issues a number of locations.

"What we're about is the day-to-day things – how people feel about their community and improving how they feel about the place they live in," he said.

Sgt Smith is married with a daughter and lives in Stroud. He is pleased to be returning to his home town after nine years stationed at Leckhampton, then Stow-on-the-Wold. He said: "It's good to be working and living in Stroud and I look forward to meeting more people in their communities."