By THE ‘Blue Light’ from Cleethorpes’ former station has already moved to Humberside Police’s new home at The Knoll as officers continue their work in the resort, assures Chief Inspector Will Jenkins.
Speaking at a special event to mark the official closure of the force’s home of almost 90 years in Princes Road, the police chief was keen to tell the public that officers were now more embedded into the community than ever before – with a more visible, modern and central location at The Knoll where community and neighbourhood beat officers are now based.
This event today is to say a heartfelt goodbye to our home here, but also to let people know that we are still in the community and our blue light has already been moved,” Chief Inspector Jenkins told an audience that included civic leaders, councillors and former police officers who enjoyed tours around their old workplace and reminiscing with ex-colleagues.
Former officer, Steve Lynn, has led a VANEL (Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire) project charting the history of community policing in Cleethorpes.
Called, Cleethorpes Community COPs, the National Heritage Lottery-funded project examined the history of the force in the resort and its changing face over the years. Displays, a website, and memorabilia, has been collected, which is now in the process of getting a permanent display home. Steve, along with VANEL development manager Karl Elliott, were at the event showcasing the work of COPs, which is now complete thanks also to the sterling research undertaken by local historian Doreen Tyson.
It has been wonderful to be able to show former colleagues here today the work that has been done. So many fond memories of our time served with Humberside Police have been collected as part of COPs and it’s great to watch people looking at the displays and remembering those times,” said Steve.
Former colleagues included retired detective Malcolm Hutchinson and former PC Alan Clark. Alan, now 68, has become a member of the popular volunteer group BLB (Blue Lights Brigade) since retiring as an office manager with the major incident team, which has most latterly based at Princes Road. BLB, again a funded-project supported by VANEL, now has an army of 300 volunteers across North and North East Lincolnshire – all former professionals who support the emergency services in real life situations.
As part of his BLB work Alan makes regular ‘Safe and Well’ visits as part of the Fire and Rescue Service’s project to ensure vulnerable people are safe in their homes.
Police officers, as do people in similar professions, lead such busy and structured lives and when you retire there is a part of you that doesn’t know what to do. BLB gives you a real purpose but also uses the skills that you have gained – I am very used to knocking on a door and not reacting when it is opened to something unexpected,” he said.
Serving officer, PC Caroline Cameron has already made the move to the new police home in Cleethorpes:
Yes, it is sad to leave here but we are still very much in the resort as a neighbourhood team and that will not change,” she said.
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