Meet Melton's dedicated beat bobbies

Some of the officers on the the Melton neighbourhood police team, from left, Pc Shane Sanderson, Pc Natalie Dandy, Pc Andrew French, Pc Lucy Baxter and Sgt James PorterSome of the officers on the the Melton neighbourhood police team, from left, Pc Shane Sanderson, Pc Natalie Dandy, Pc Andrew French, Pc Lucy Baxter and Sgt James Porter
Some of the officers on the the Melton neighbourhood police team, from left, Pc Shane Sanderson, Pc Natalie Dandy, Pc Andrew French, Pc Lucy Baxter and Sgt James Porter
They come from a wide range of professions and this close-knit team of men and women are now tasked with a crucial role in upholding law and order in the Melton area.

The Melton Times was granted the opportunity to get up close and personal to the local neighbourhood policing team at their station HQ on King Street.

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These are dedicated beat officers whose job is to become a visible presence in the community and build up trusting relationships with local people.

They can often also get the call to assist Melton’s response officers deal with serious criminal activity and emergency incidents.

Pc Natalie Dandy (left) and Pc Lucy BaxterPc Natalie Dandy (left) and Pc Lucy Baxter
Pc Natalie Dandy (left) and Pc Lucy Baxter

What may surprise many are the jobs that many of the neighbourhood policing team used to – they have backgrounds in the funeral sector, a health spa, dog kennels and the NHS, for example.

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Pc Andrew French has been based at the Melton station for years after working for a funeral directors for a quarter of a century,

"Building up relationships with local people is key to what we do, particularly in rural areas,” he said.

"There is nothing better than getting out of the car and talking to people. Nobody can talk to you when you are travelling at 30mph.”

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Sgt James Porter of Melton PoliceSgt James Porter of Melton Police
Sgt James Porter of Melton Police

He is working closely with Pc Natalie Dandy, who has been a police officer for less than a month.

They cover the Melton Rural beat, a wide area which includes 38 villages, responding to rural crime, road safety and other incidents as well as engaging with the locals.

Pc Dandy, who previously worked in dog kennels near Loughborough, commented: “I always wanted to be a police officer. I’ve learned a lot already.

“It is a very interesting job. Every day is different.”

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Pc Shane Sanderson (left) and Pc Andrew French of Melton PolicePc Shane Sanderson (left) and Pc Andrew French of Melton Police
Pc Shane Sanderson (left) and Pc Andrew French of Melton Police

There are similarities in the career Pc Shane Sanderson used to have before joining Leicestershire Police.

A Geordie who served in the Royal Navy, he was drafted into the Melton neighbourhood team after being stationed with the navy at an RAF base in Rutland.

"The code of ethics and the rank structure is very similar in the police to what it is in the navy,” he said.

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