A new face has been seen cycling around Bristol University’s precinct.  PC1875 Sarah Daniels, a serving Police Officer from Redland Police Station, has been employed as Beat Officer at Bristol University.

Sarah will be working with the University’s Security Services for 16 hours a week in a formal partnership with Avon and Somerset Police.  The arrangement is initially for a trial six-month period, and it is hoped this will become a permanent position.

As well as working with the University’s patrol staff, Sarah will be helping to investigate University crime along with targeting offenders who are known to frequent the area.

Sarah has been given a police liveried mountain bike by the University to enable her to respond to calls for help by University staff and students.  The University has also sponsored another two mountain bikes to be used by officers at Redland Police Station.  One will be used by PC Mike O’Toole to cover High Kingsdown and Cotham and the other will be used by PC Tim Middleton to cover Stoke Bishop, including six of the University’s halls of residence.

PC Daniels, commenting on her new position, said: ‘I have been at Redland Police station for the whole of my ten-year service.  For the past two and a half years I have been out of uniform targeting specific offenders as part of a covert operation that was hugely successful.

‘I am also a trained evidence gatherer for the force and hope my experience and local knowledge will benefit the University.’

 Mike Phipps, Bursar, added: ‘I am delighted that we are working in partnership with the local constabulary.  This initiative should help us to continue to keep crime levels down and, more importantly, to reduce the fear of crime amongst our community.’