Wellingborough’s neighbourhood policing team parks its Neighbourhood Beat Bus at Nene Court Shopping Village this Tuesday, 7 July, inviting residents to raise any worries about crime or anti-social behaviour. PCSO Shannon Turney, schools liaison officer for Wellingborough North, confirmed the visit on the Northamptonshire Talking alert service, with officers on hand from 10am at the Embankment site.
Anyone who drops by can speak directly to the team about incidents in their area, pass on information, or pick up practical crime prevention advice. The force stresses the surgeries form part of continuous work to keep a visible presence in Wellingborough North, though the engagement may be pulled if an operational demand requires it.
The vehicle itself is one of two Volkswagen Crafter Beat Buses funded by the Office of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and launched in September 2021. The smaller footprint replaced previous larger mobile stations, making it easier to reach different communities while still offering a private space to talk. Chief Superintendent Ash Tuckley noted at the time: “The vehicles are smaller than our previous mobile police stations, making them more versatile in terms of where they can go. Yet they’re big enough to be a visible focal point and also provide adequate indoor space where people can sit and chat to their local officers in private if they prefer.”
Earlier this year a similar surgery with the Beat Bus on Market Street in the town centre drew around 300 people, handing out crime prevention materials and information. The Nene Court stop sits a five-minute walk from Wellingborough Station, inside converted Victorian buildings that once housed the Wellingborough Gas Light Co. before the 1990s retail conversion.
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