As we approach the new decade, the “twenty twenties”, I look back on an incredibly busy year for Lincolnshire Police at a time when, unfortunately, we saw further reductions in officer and staff numbers. Responding to tragic events and delivering daily policing has been a real challenge and, understandably, the source of stress and anxiety, when people are just trying to do the best they can. The hard work and dedication of all the officers and staff across Lincolnshire is humbling to me, and the continued support of local communities, so very welcomed.
So we finish the year with a Government who have pledged to increase the number of police officers across England and Wales. This means a short-term rise of fifty for us, with the prospect of a hundred more in the next couple of years. The PCC, Marc Jones, and I will pressure Government to use this opportunity to redress some of the historic imbalances that have so harmed policing in Lincolnshire. We have a reason then, to be optimistic that a brighter future is on the horizon.
The wellbeing of all my staff is a clear concern for me; particularly given the difficult jobs they carry out. I hope that recruiting more people to the force will go a very long way, not just in improving our service, but also in helping people be happy, healthy, valued and engaged as a member of Lincolnshire Police.
I say so often that policing is a family and this is a time of year to remember everyone in that family; to celebrate what we have achieved; to be grateful for what we have received, and to thank those around us for the help and support they have shown throughout the year. I am immensely proud to be part of this family and I hope that at some point this Christmas you get a chance to have some enjoyable time with your family.
Lincolnshire is a wonderful county and the police officers and staff that work here are passionate about what we do. Simply put – keeping you as safe as possible. Whether that is going about your life in public, in your home or online; your safety is what matters to all of us.
Bill Skelly is the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police.
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Exciting news for MyLocal app users and The Lincolnite readers! Our latest update is now available to download from your app store and comes packed with the best local news experience you can enjoy.
Revamped News Feed: Enjoy faster loading times and smoother scrolling that make catching up on local news a breeze.
New Play Video Feed: Dive into a dynamic video feed that brings local stories to life in a whole new way.
Enhanced In-App Browser: Access external links quickly and efficiently, right from the app, without any distractions.
Update your MyLocal app from your app store (version 2.73) now and start enjoying these great new features today!
P.S.: Start your MyLocal membership today to support MyLocal and The Lincolnite deliver you a better local news experience and honest journalism from across Lincolnshire.
P.P.S.: We have some huge things in the pipeline, stay tuned!