Kate Bailey

“CPO are responsible for providing crime prevention advice to all aspects of society. We have to keep on top of the latest criminal activities and develop tactics to prevent them. The advent of technology has made a massive difference to my role, we didn’t even have emails when I started, let alone mobile phones. We also support vulnerable victims, in particular domestic abuse victims, and provide them with devices to help keep them safe.

“I work alongside colleagues from many different agencies and organisations. I receive requests for support from officers and attend site visits to bring my problem-solving perspective in order to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. I write reports known as Environmental Visual Audits, providing recommendations to change an environment to prevent crime and improve the area for residents.

“The job can be tough when there is a lack of funding to be able to do the things you want to do to improve areas for the benefit of residents. The recent Home Office ‘Safer Streets’ funding was a massive bonus to several deprived areas of Northamptonshire as it allowed us to make real tangible differences to tackle acquisitive crime and protect women and girls, amongst other things.

“In 2009 I was made redundant when CPO numbers were slashed from 11 to five. I was gutted but managed to get redeployed into the force’s planning department. Thankfully I was allowed to cover a CPO extended maternity leave in 2011 as I already had the qualifications, and I was later offered a permanent position back in the role I loved.

“I am not convinced that all officers are aware of our existence and understand what we do. Fortunately, I now have the opportunity to present to new police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) as part of their induction training, so they are better informed in their roles and can call on us when needed.

“While I initially started volunteering for Northamptonshire Police as a Special Constable, I decided to continue working for the force in the CPO role. This career has given me the confidence and ability to present to large audiences, both internally and externally. 

“The good thing about my job is meeting the public and providing a service to them, often at very distressing times in their lives. I like to see that I have provided reassurance to them.

“Some of the things I’m most proud of achieving happened in 2001. I was a member of the town centre policing teams that founded both Northampton Retail Crime Initiative and Northampton Pubwatch.

“I became secretary to both schemes and I am delighted that both schemes are still going strong today. In 2000 I was recognised by National Pubwatch for my outstanding contribution to Northampton Pubwatch and I won the Malcolm Eidmans award which was presented to me at the National Pubwatch conference in Cardiff in 2000.”

Carole Jones, crime prevention team leader and Kate’s supervisor, said: “Kate has a wealth of experience in the roles she has undertaken through her working life. She is one of the ‘go to’ crime prevention officers because of her professional knowledge and experience, and her working relationships with policing colleagues and external partners.

“Kate provides crime prevention advice and information talks to community groups, reaching a wide range of people in terms of age, vulnerability, ethnicity, and background. She also put together the format for the Young Citizens workshops which she delivers with policing colleagues to give key messages to young people about staying safe, and what to do when they need help.

“Kate has played a major role in the revamp and delivery of crime prevention training to student police officers and PCSOs in this force and has also gone out to deliver specific training to police teams which in turn has helped officers be more effective when visiting victim of burglary.

“One of the things that Kate is renowned for is her expertise in terms of bike marking, and she has organised many events for the public to learn about registering their bicycles and marking their bikes. These events go a long way to preventing bicycle theft as owners are also advised on what is needed to secure their bikes safely when out or at home. On one occasion a bicycle was stolen after it had been marked and registered, but when the offender was seen with a bike it was identified as being stolen because of the bike marking just done, and happily returned to the owner.”

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