Chesterfield Safer Neighbourhoods officer sets up his own 'plodcast'

PC Randell recording his podcast with Walton Evangelical Church Minister Simon Robinson

A Safer Neighbourhoods police officer in Chesterfield has become the first in the force to record his own podcast.

PC Dave Randell, of the Walton and West Safer Neighbourhood Team, recorded his first podcast today (Friday, January 29) so people can listen to the latest local police information on the move.

The podcast, which will be regularly updated, contains information about what PC Randell has been doing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the area and any initiatives or public meetings he has coming up.

The idea for the podcast came from a meeting with Simon Robinson, the Walton Evangelical Church minister, who offered Dave the use of the church's recording equipment.

Simon said: "We have been working with Dave for a couple of years now and he holds regular surgeries at the church.

"We record our sermons for people to download as a podcast and I suggested to Dave he could use our equipment to do something similar.

"By linking it to our website, regular listeners to our weekly sermons can now hear about what their local officer has been doing as well."

PC Randell jumped at the chance to try and reach a wider audience with information about their local officer.

He said: "It is a fantastic way to keep local people informed about what is happening in their area.

"I will keep it updated with the progress I'm making on the issues the community have asked me to tackle. There will also be crime prevention advice, updates on any changes to the priorities I will be focusing on and notice of upcoming events."

"I would like to thank the church for linking my podcast to their site and helping me to reach more members of the community I serve with these messages."

The podcast is now available to download from the Derbyshire Constabulary website and the Walton Evangelical Church website.

For more information about your local Safer Neighbourhood team or to download the podcast visit www.derbyshire.police.uk.