Cops turn to Facebook for friends

David O'Leary • Published 11 Nov 2011 09:30 3 Comments

POLICE in Peeblesshire are logging onto social network site Facebook in a bid to find some friends.

Local officers recently scored lowly in a public satisfaction survey carried out by their own Quality Assurance Unit.

And so they are now heading online in the hope of poking the public into liking them.

Peebles Inspector Mike Wynn said: "A small number of members of the public, who we have had contact with, were surveyed and unfortunately we scored pretty low.

"As a result we are now looking to set up a Facebook profile which we feel will help us improve our engagement locally.

"It will also allow us to relay up-to-date information to the public on incidents such as road closures or accidents and vice-versa by allowing locals to inform us of incidents or problems.

"Of course, emergencies will still be best dealt with by ringing 999."

The new online police page comes just weeks after it was revealed local stations in West Linton and Innerleithen are to close.

However, Inspector Wynn denied the developments were linked.

He said: "It's not a case of closing stations and opening a Facebook account as a replacement. Neither of these stations are permanently manned and are largely unused at present."

The force's Facebook move has been applauded by Scottish Borders Council's representative on the Lothian and Borders Police Board, councillor Gavin Logan.

He said: "I feel this is a good idea and I applaud this forward thinking approach to policing.

"It's a really good initiative in this digital age."

Councillor Logan has also stated that he will ask for the purchase of a mobile police station for the region at the upcoming meeting of the Lothian and Borders Police Board in Haddington on Monday.

He continued: "I will be asking Chief Constable David Strang that any capital receipts recieved from the sale of these police stations will be spent in Peeblesshire on a community contact vehicle for the area.

"This will allow officers to travel and set up base in various locations throughout our rural region."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 11 Nov 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  FACEBOOKER
  Unregistered User
  Nov 11, 13:57
  Report comment

  l wont be adding them to my facebook how can you expect people to like you if you have no respect for them SIMPLE
  
  Recommend?   Yes 129     No 3

• 

  Jock T. Bairn
  12 posts
  Nov 11, 18:14
  Report comment

  Is this some kind of half-hearted attempt to fulfil a community policing obligation without the officers having to get out of the van and stop scowling at people? Aye, that'll work.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 89     No 2

• 

  givethemabreak
  Unregistered User
  Nov 12, 08:43
  Report comment

  I think it's an attempt to give the public more informarion, in a modern and more accessible way. Why do people automatically think it's to fill a gap?? There is no gap in community policing, Peeblesshire has three community officers. And as it's a Facebook page, you don't need to add the police as a friend just like the page to get the information. If you're going to have a go, do your homework.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 138

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