THIS month I would like to update you in relation to some internal changes that have recently just taken place.

The police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) assigned to community policing are now grouped together in Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs). Every area in Wyre Forest has their own team – see www.westmercia.police.uk The PSCOs are also now working until midnight and have been given additional powers to deal with issues that cause concern to the community like under-age drinking, litter and fly-tipping.

Mobile data units mean patrol officers, who work 24 hours a day, are able to be out for longer as they can access police IT systems from their cars. We’ve joined the 21st century!

To further emphasise this point you can follow the SNTs on twitter (KminsterCops, BewdleyCops and StourportCops). Please follow them. You will see what they are up to and obtain the odd tip.

One tip I would pass on myself is to consider using timer switches to ‘lighten up’ your home now that the dark evenings are upon us.

Using timer switches or leaving a light on will give the impression that someone is at home and deter would-be thieves.

Most burglaries are carried out by opportunistic thieves who are looking for the easiest way of getting into a house without being seen or disturbed. If they think someone is at home and the house is well secured you are much less likely to be burgled.

External doors should be kept locked and keys put in a safe place out of sight where they cannot be reached through a letterbox or cat flap.

Windows should be kept closed in any unoccupied rooms and people should get into the habit of double-checking windows and doors before they go up to bed at night.

INSPECTOR PAUL CROWLEY, KIDDERMINSTER POLICE