Listen to PC Dave Cullen on the beat

A growing problem

Thirsk is a growing community. Apart from new property that has already helped to swell the town's population, another 700 - 900 homes are being planned.

More houses will mean more families, and so a larger number of teenagers and young people on the streets of Thirsk.

Thirsk Police Station

This causes concern for the local police force. Although the young people of Thirsk are no worse than those anywhere, the town doesn't have amenities for the current youth population, let alone a larger one..

So the young people of Thirsk meet their friends in the town centre, skateboard in supermarket car parks or sit around at the swimming pool.

All very innocent, unless you aren't part of that large group of fun-loving, but bored young people. Then it seems intimidating, intrusive, and noisy. Just the sort of behaviour you have to report to the police.

Police response

Police Inspector Val Broadly, the Local Area Commander foresaw the potential problems early on. "Some time ago, the town regeneration was established.

"I went to one of the start-up meetings, because I could see that we could get into a lot of beautification of the town, and did a lot of development, but if we hadn't made a youth provision, it would cause as many problems as it would solve."

So Thirsk now has a town centre PC, Dave Cullen, a traditional bobby on the beat.

He's been working with older members of the community, to help reduce the fear of crime, and with the younger ones, introduce them to a friendly interaction with the law.

Listen to PC Dave Cullen on the beat