Wokingham

Wokingham has a new look Neighbourhood team following the appointment of a deputy commander and two new Inspectors.

Insp Jim Weems is the new Deputy Wokingham LPA Commander taking over from Insp Liz Kirk who has moved to a new role at headquarters.

Insp Weems was most recently the Wokingham East Neighbourhood Inspector and he oversaw the successful role out of neighbourhood policing on the LPA.

He said: “I’m delighted to take up this new role.

“My main priority is to reduce crime, focusing on criminal damage, burglary and auto crime and to continue the successes of neighbourhood policing by recruiting more Police Community Support Officers across the area.”

Insp Weems is replaced at Wokingham East by Insp Lindsay James who joins the team from the Reading.

Insp James joined Thames Valley Police in 1987 working initially at Bracknell as a response shift constable. He transferred to Reading as a constable. He went onto work as a firearms officer as a constable and a sergeant for the Tactical Firearms Team.

In between he was a sector sergeant covering the western side of Wokingham police area and as acting Detective Inspector during Operation Robbery where his team achieved a reduction of 30% in Robberies.

He said: “I am looking forward to my new role at Wokingham and continuing the success of Neighbourhood Policing in the area.”

Insp James will be responsible for the neighbourhoods of Wargrave & Remenham, Twyford & Ruscombe, Sonning, Charvil & Hurst, Winnersh East and West, Emmbrook & Woosehill, Norreys & Westcott, Wokingham town centre, Finchampstead & Barkham, and North Crowthorne.

Insp Jo Hackett also joins the team from Reading and she replaces Insp Rod Howell at Wokingham West.

Insp Hackett joined Thames Valley Police in 2005, following a nine year career with Avon and Somerset Constabulary, and has worked as a uniformed response team PC and sergeant and has spent time as a Detective Constable and Detective Sergeant in CID.

She was promoted to Inspector in January 2006 and has spent the last year as a response team Inspector at Reading.

She said: “I am looking forward to getting to know the local community and improving the quality of life for residents in our area who deserve to live without the fear of crime.”

Insp Hackett will be responsible for the Woodley, Earley and Shinfield, Swallowfield & Arborfield neighbourhoods.

Wokingham LPA Commander Tony Ismay is delighted with his new look Neighbourhood Policing team.

He said: “I believe we have the right people in place to build on the successful role out of Neighbourhood Policing in Wokingham.

“We have an excellent team in place and with the arrival of more PCSOs shortly it will be getting even stronger.

“Neighbourhood policing is about returning to grass roots level and developing closer ties with the community.

“And with this new team we will be working even closer with partners and residents to identify problems and develop solutions. Everyone has a part to play and it gives us great satisfaction when we can solve problems at a local level and really make a difference.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham