Gloucestershire Police

Gloucestershire Police are in the news again today.

Blunkett's Bobby refuses to walk the streets over health and safety, is an article in today's Daily Mail.

According to the above report, CSO Lesley Pooley has complained to senior officers about the health and safety aspect of walking her beat, due to the lack of public footpaths in the villages she patrols.

Senior officers have caved in and allowed her to patrol her beat in a vehicle.

The decision has been branded "crazy" by incredulous villagers in the communities of South Cerney and Cerney Wick, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

Parish council clerk Maurice McKee said: "Do criminals need footpaths to carry out crimes? And if they don't, why do police need a footpath to patrol?"

Pub landlord Martin Smith, who runs the Royal Oak in South Cerney, said: "It's crazy. We're all up in arms about it. She should still be walking the streets. Why not - they have fluorescent jackets dont they?"

Mrs Pooley became the new PCSO - or "Blunkett's bobby" - for the villages three months ago and has yet to visit some of the lanes on her beat because of the ruling by bosses.

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Gloucestershire Police