SADDLEWORTH’S police sergeant has outlined his priorities for the area – including tackling speeding and improving safety around Dove Stone Reservoir.
Andy Holian, who took up the sergeant’s role earlier this year, met with councillors at Saddleworth Parish Council recently to discuss his work and plans for the community.
The 22-year police veteran has spent his entire career in Oldham and said he jumped at the opportunity to take on the Saddleworth role.
“It was the area I’d most enjoyed when I was working, so I really threw myself at the role.”
His visit came as reported crime across Saddleworth showed a significant improvement, with figures for the latest month around a third lower than in previous months.
One of Sergeant Holian’s first priorities has been making greater use of the police facilities and teams already operating in the area.
“We have a community speed watch team, who were operating out of a shed. They are absolutely a part of our team, so I immediately moved them into the station. Speeding is the most reported crime in our area, and they are really important in showing people that we take that seriously.”
He has also opened up Saddleworth police station to teams working across the area and encouraged road policing training teams to use the area for practice.
The aim is to increase the visibility of officers in Saddleworth and give residents greater confidence that police are present in their communities.
Councillors questioned Sergeant Holian about the possibility of speed cameras at dangerous locations, including the crossroads in Denshaw, as well as how information could be shared more effectively with officers.
Dove Stone Reservoir was also highlighted as a key priority.
Sergeant Holian said he wanted to see greater involvement from the local community and the RSPB, which now controls the car park and wider area around the reservoir.
He is also looking at establishing a public space protection order (PSPO) covering the reservoir itself. The existing order only covers the surrounding land, with the aim of reducing the risk of further fatalities caused by people swimming in the water.
Parish Council Chair Barbara Beeley said: “The Parish Council is really grassroots level politics – where we help to build our communities. That’s what good neighbourhood policing does as well, and we’re delighted to have seen Sergeant Holian not just at our council meetings, but out at local community groups, being visible and learning about what makes Saddleworth special.
“These relationships are vital to ensuring Saddleworth can continue to see lower levels of crime, and make sure people feel safe in our area.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.