After Steve Ladyman along with ward councillors rasied anti-social behaviour on the Whitehall Estate with the police, a task force was set up in focus on the Estate throughout December, and Steve joined them on patrol. Having been hugely encouraged by the way regular constables and PCSO’s were working together, not only on the Whitehall Estate but throughout South Thanet, Steve said, ''In many ways it is a return to old fashioned policing. The team are doing a great job".

Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith have praised Neighbourhood Policing Teams like the one set up for the Whitehall Estate, and have now launched a 'policing pledge' for that every community.

To hear Jacqui Smith outline the policing pledge, visit http://www.youtube.com/v/pLcy6m2Jeac&rel=1.

From today, every household across the country will have a dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Team to solve local problems – contactable by phone or through community meetings. The contact details for South Thanet's PCSO's are listed below. Alternatively, details are available through a new website; www.neighbourhoodpolicing.co.uk.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams consist of police officers and Police Community Support Officers. Steve is pictured above with Superintenmdant Peter West and PCSO Dan Bartlett. These Teams work in tandem with local people – listening to them and ensuring their concerns are met through local agreements. The Teams will also be working with communities to set local priorities – such as tackling anti-social behaviour, drugs or alcohol-related crime. By drawing up local policing pledges, local people will have a real say over how their streets are policed.

The new policing pledge, to be introduced later this year, will set out a national standard of what people can expect from their Neighbourhood Policing Team. The standards could include:

• arranging to visit you at a convenient time;
• regular reporting on the progress of detecting a crime;
• how a victim of crime is treated and supported; and
• how and when local crime information is provided to the public.

The PCSO’s role is essential because by supporting front-line police officers they extend the range of activities the police are able to provide to the community, helping to inspire confidence by tackling the menace of anti-social behavior.

South Thanet's PCSO's inspire confidence in the community by helping to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour, dealing with minor offences and supporting front-line policing. PCSO's perform an essential role, which extends the range of activities the police are able to provide to the communities.

Their role includes:

• Dealing with members of the public
• Tackling anti-social behaviour
• Building links with employers and businesses in the community
• Dealing with nuisance offences such as street drinking and begging
• Removal of vehicles
• Issuing of fixed penalty tickets.

PCSOs are becoming an increasingly important part of the police ‘family’ and their role is an interesting and evolving one.

The post of PCSO is sometimes used as a stepping-stone into other police staff careers, or can lead to tutoring new PCSOs. It is a good starting point for those wishing to become police officers.

How to contact the Police and PCSO's -

Remember - Dial 999 if there is threat to life or a crime is in progress

Call 01622 690690 for all non-emergencies (Minicom only: 01622 686655). From here you may be redirected to a PCSO in your ward.

Below is a list of the Police Community Support officers currently operating in the South Thanet area-

Ramsgate - PCSO Paul Hollier (Central Harbour Ward)

PCSO Gareth Foreman - 0777 222 6130 (Newington Ward)

PCSO Nathan Prentice - 0777 222 6199 (Newington Ward)

PCSO Julie Pullinger - 07969 584 291 (Eastcliffe Ward)

PCSO John Christian - 07969 584 252 (Cliffsend & Pegwall Ward)

PCSO Andy Howe - 0777 222 5969 (Nethercourt Ward)

PCSO Dan Bartlett - 0777 222 5942 (Northwood Ward)

PCSO Sarah Grange - 07989 992 458 (Marlow Acadamy)

Broadstairs - PCSO Laura Provins - 0777 222 6138 (Beacon Road Ward)

PCSO Brian Lamberton - 0777 222 5971 (St Peters Ward)

PCSO Gerry Williams - 07989 992 460 (Bradstow Ward)

PCSO Robin Platt - 0777 222 6108 (Viking Ward)

PCSO Andy Harmes 0777 222 5951 (Sir Moses Montifiore Ward)

PCSO Alex Stuart - 07779 123 439 (Viking and Bradstow Wards)

PCSO Victoria Parker - 0777 222 6136 (Thanet College)

PCSO Kim Burgess - 07980 683 956 (Westwood Cross)

PCSO Katie Parker-Brown - 07969 584204 (Aylesham, Littlestour & Ashstone)

PSCO Ian Norton 07972 004421 (Sandwich Town)

PCSO Lisa White 07772 226204 (07772 226204)

Cliftonville - PCSO Emma Bartlett - 07772 225967

Sandwich - PCSO Jade Symons - 01304 218000

Wingham - PC Wayne Wright - 01304 218110

Britain is safer with Labour. Crime is down 32 per cent since 1997 - the chance of being a victim of crime is at its lowest for 27 years - and we have provided over 14,000 more police and 16,000 Police Community Support Officers, giving every community in England and Wales its own Neighbourhood Police Team.

And we will go further: by 2009 our ambition is to reduce violent crime, theft and burglary so that the average chance of being a victim of crime will be the lowest in nearly 30 years. We will provide 7,000 more prison places by 2010 through the largest ever prison-building programme.