Carole Jones

“I am the line manager for the crime prevention team and the designing out crime officers. My main responsibilities include support and supervision for the team, representation at internal and external meetings, working with colleagues and partnership agencies to assist with tackling crime, helping victims of crime, and preventing people from becoming repeat victims of crime.

“On a typical day, I will be involved in assessing and reviewing referrals made to the crime prevention team to risk assess and ascertain if these require intervention by the team. Where a referral fits our criteria, I will allocate it to a crime prevention officer. If it doesn’t meet the criteria, I will go back to the referrer to explain why and provide advice on what can be done.

“I am also the point of support for high risk referrals or more complex cases to ensure we are offering the best possible outcome for the victim referred to us.

“I attend external meetings, these help with gaining insight and information about what is happening in the wider communities, and present opportunities to offer crime prevention advice and input which in turn allows us to contribute proactively to wider community safety.

“I deliver crime prevention training to policing teams and staff. Our knowledge and expertise help colleagues in policing to tackle crime, and our work with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners Office has assisted them in securing a massive amount of funding for security measures in communities.

“Before joining the police, I was a regional manager for a national mental health charity who restructured, and I was faced with going for a higher management role responsible for the south of England. At that time, my two little grandsons arrived, and I realised much as I liked my job, I couldn’t be spending all that time travelling away when there were little lights of my life to cuddle and play with. So, I left the organisation and decided to look for a job locally. This role was advertised, and I was lucky enough to be successful in my application.

“I really enjoy working with a brilliant team who are so committed to doing all they can to help make communities safer, and doing what I can to help this to happen by supporting them and providing advice and guidance when needed. I love knowing that people feel safer and happier, by the help given by my team and me.

“I am at my happiest when I can help others – no matter who or in what regard - and feel like I have contributed towards a positive change no matter how big or small that may be.

“One of the things I’m proud of in this role is starting a new job when Covid lockdown began, trying to work out where things were and who did what, and studying and achieving my Level 4 Crime Prevention qualification despite all this!

“Early into my role I did an environmental visual audit on an estate that is a hot spot for criminal activity especially drug dealing and violence. Walking around in the daytime I could see signs of neglect and plenty of unlit, seemingly abandoned areas where crime could and does happen because of this. In amongst this were nicely kept gardens and loved houses where people were trying to take pride in where they live and make nice homes for their families. While walking around mothers and young children walked by and said hello. Shortly afterwards I read that three masked men brandishing knives had forced themselves into a house demanding to know where the drugs were. This house was occupied by a mum and dad with three young children who were left shaking with fright. Thankfully the men realised they had got the wrong address and left without causing harm to the family.

“This incident has always been at the back of my mind, driving me to do all that is possible to help people live safely in the community, which all of us have a right to do. And wanting to help with problem solving to try and stop the criminal activity in the communities.  

“For me, this career is all about prevention. In my previous roles, it was about preventing homelessness and repeat homelessness, preventing substance misuse and relapses, and preventing relapse in mental health.

“In this role it is also about thinking how I can prevent victims becoming repeat victims, how I can stop criminals committing crimes. So, prevention has underpinned all that I have done. Problem solving to find solutions and helping to make positive changes in people’s lives.

Sara Townsend, Prevention Manager and Carole’s supervisor, said: “Carole is a great leader. She demonstrates consistently her ability to support and drive her team’s performance with a focus on delivering excellent service to the public.

“Carole’s previous career history in policing and community partner organisations means that she has many strings to her bow. She is a gifted problem solver and has a natural coaching style which contributes positively to every area of work that she is involved in. Carole always strives to further her own development because she thrives on positives. She has passion and enthusiasm in boundless quantities – crime prevention is safe in her hands.”

To find out more about a role in Crime Prevention and to view all our current vacancies, please use the link below.