Dog walkers participate in Paws on Patrol scheme
In a bid to tackle issues in the area, the people of Newmarket in Suffolk are joining forces with their four-legged friends to sniff out crime.
More than 16,000 people live in the town, which has an anti-social crime rate of 31%. In response to this statistic, a brand new police initiative called ‘Paws on Patrol’ launched on Sunday, February 2 with the aim of reducing crime rates in Newmarket. People gathered at the Severals Sports Pavilion on Bury Road to listen to officers explain the scheme, which is backed by the Forest Heath District Council.
Further registration days will take place on March 20 at the Jubilee Centre in Mildenhall and on March 27 at the Millennium Centre in Red Lodge. This provides an opportunity for animal lovers to get together and prevent wrongdoings in the area. Pet owners will be offered free microchipping from the Dogs Trust, as well as the opportunity to sign up for ‘Paws on Patrol’ free of charge. What’s more, they will receive Pets at Home nutritional advice, pet health check-ups, and complimentary doggy bags.
A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said:
“The scheme encourages dog walkers to report suspicious behavior by calling 999 or the non-emergency 101 number.”
An assortment of services will be made available at the events. People who would like to be a part of this exciting scheme, but are unable to attend the forthcoming registration days, can find out more by calling the Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101.
