Inspector Dickinson talks about local policing as part of his new role

As part of Neighbourhood Policing Week, Inspector Matt Dickinson speaks out about his passion for his role.

Inspector Dickinson has recently taken on the role of local policing inspector for South Holland and is acting inspector for Boston.

He joined the force 18 years ago, starting off as police constable and working his way up to sergeant rank, before becoming an inspector. All positions were in local policing.

Throughout his policing career, Inspector Dickinson has worked on many operations to help keep the community safe.

He has assisted in Operation Absence, a joint agency partnership operation, carrying out truancy patrols that are aimed at targeting anti-social-behaviour, and vulnerable children. The aim is to safeguard, and also looks at prevention work with the other agencies such as the council and education services.

Inspector Dickinson is also the tactical force lead for stop and search and works with partner agencies to facilitate community scrutiny panels to review encounters and recommend areas for organisational improvement as well as areas of best practice and recognising where officers who do well.

He is also the force ride-along Single Point Of Contact (SPOC) who monitors the ride-along process and helps deliver the functionality behind this. He looks for ways to advertise this and to get the wider community involved in policing to increase trust and confidence in our tactics. 

Inspector Dickinson, who has been based at Spalding for the last three years as an operations inspector, said: “I look forward to working with the community and partners in continuing the good work that the existing team are doing to keep our communities safe.

“Throughout my career, I have seen some changes to policing, however, the priority is and has always has been about how we can work together to keep our communities safe, prevent criminality and tackle antisocial behaviour.

“My commitment is to continue this work in partnership, to ensure those who cause harm to others are held to account for their actions, put victims first and ensure South Holland and Boston continues to be a safe place to live, work and visit.”