EDEN'S Policing Team has seen a change to its Police Community Support Officers (PCSO).

PCSO Gemma Threlkeld has moved from Appleby to Eden Farm Watch Development and Coordination Officer, and the community in Appleby will soon see PCSO Karen Dakin out and about in the area.

Sergeant John Chambers, from the Eden Policing Team, said: “Gemma  will be a miss from Appleby to both young and old residents who she has formed strong relationships with over the years including her presence at Grinton Residential trips with Appleby Grammar School.

“However, her new role is vitally important to the rural communities. As Eden Farm Watch Development and Coordination officer she is looking forward to the new challenge.”

Gemma said: “I will miss the residents in Appleby and have formed close relationships during the last six years that I have been the PCSO for the community.

“I am Cumbrian born and bred and from a farming background. I understand that everyone has individual needs and the Farming Community is one that I recognise as being unique.

“I am looking forward to developing in my new role and working with partners to encourage new volunteers to join Farm Watch.”

The Eden Farm watch aims to turn down the trend of increasing crime in the Rural areas and ultimately cut it out altogether.

One of the main tactics is to encourage rural communities to speak to each other and importantly to the Police, ensuring that any doubts around suspicious activity is quickly reported.

Since the start of the proactive side of the Farm Watch, which began at the end of 2011, the number of reported suspicious incidents have increased from two per week to a recent average of five per day.

PSCO Threlkeld will continue to recruit new members to Farm Watch and develop nights of action which recently saw 34 local Farmers patrolling the country lanes alongside a 100 plus strong army of volunteers from adjoining counties.

Appleby will also see a new PCSO out and about in the town - Karen Dakin joined the Eden team a month ago and is already out meeting the community.

She said: “I have worked as a PCSO for nearly seven years in South Cumbria, as part of the Kendal Rural East area. 

“During that time I have been able to build positive links within the community and I am looking forward to transferring those skills within my new role as a PCSO based at Appleby.

“I anticipate new challenges and rewards, not least the Appleby Horse Fair.   I live locally in the Appleby area and I will enjoy the prospect of working within my own community.

“I am aware that Appleby has had a consistent level of service from the Eden Neighbourhood Police team and I intend to continue building on this while also developing my own individual ideas within the team and wider community.”