"it’s great to be back and serving my own community"

As part of Neighbourhood Policing Week of Action we are shining a light on some of our Neighbourhood Officers across the force.

Last year Inspector Claire Jacobs joined the Grimsby Central Team after working in the Criminal Justice Unit. We caught up with her to see how she is getting on in her new role.   

Firstly, how long have you been a police officer?
I started as a police officer in 2004 at West Yorkshire Police. I have also worked for South Yorkshire Police, but I transferred to Humberside Police in 2015. I was born in Grimsby and grew up there too, so I was pleased to move back to my home force.

I learnt a lot from my time at West and South Yorkshire as every force is different and each of those regions has a different crime type and demographic, but it’s great to be back in my hometown and serving my own community.

So have you always worked in community policing?
No, not at all. In fact I’ve had quite a varied career so far. I’ve worked in patrol, investigation, hazard environment team as well as a public order officer.



That is quite a varied career! What was your favourite of all of those roles?
There are a lot of good things about all of these roles, but working as the tactical advisor for football matches is probably my highlight. It’s a complex job with a lot of factors to consider but helping to make sure people can cheer on their team without fear of harm or violence is really rewarding.

My team also do a lot of work with the schools in the area, helping to protect the younger generation and educating them about criminality and how they can protect themselves and their peers. This is really important work that I have always enjoyed, so I am pleased to be continuing that in this role as well.

How are you finding it now you’re back in Grimsby?
I love being back in Grimsby where I grew up. I know the area, I know the people, and I’ve lived here myself. I care about the same issues as the rest of the community, so to bring that knowledge and awareness to my work is really fulfilling.  

A lot of community policing is about working with different people and that is something I really enjoy. As a team we do a lot of early intervention work with schools and other youth groups, helping to keep the younger generations safe and out of crime.

We also work closely with partners across a number of different organisations and businesses, who all have the same vested interest in the area and the same priorities as we do. This makes it really exciting when we are working on projects or plans to benefit the area, as we are all committed to achieving the best outcome for the community and inspire each other to consider creative solutions. 

What are your key priorities for the area?
The area that my teams cover is vast and incredibly varied. From supporting the regeneration of the Town Centre, to building resilience on the Nunsthorpe Estate with the Clear, Hold, Build initiative to protecting our rural communities – we are a busy team.

My focus for 2024 is all about keeping our communities safe and taking action against anyone who tries to harm them.

Grimsby Town Centre is going through a period of regeneration, and we are lucky to be a part of that journey. It’s not just about enforcing the laws, we’re also focused on creating sustainable solutions for the long term future of the area.   

This goes hand in hand with our work as part of the ongoing Clear, Hold, Build scheme on the Nunsthorpe Estate, which is another key focus for me. A lot of work has been done, both by my team and by other departments in the force, to disrupt the drugs trade in the area and put offenders behind bars.

Whilst this is continuing, for us as community team it’s now also important that we use the space left by this disruption, to engage with vulnerable members of the community and help them seek support as well as building resilience within the community to prevent that criminality returning.

This is something that my team are really passionate about and we have strong relationships with our partners to ensure that this is achieved in the best possible way for the wider community. I look forward to seeing how the initiative continues to benefit the area.

It is important not to forget the fact that we also have a large rural area in our patch and protecting our rural communities is another key priority for us. I have a dedicated sergeant who works closely with partners, businesses and residents in those areas to ensure that we are prioritizing the right things and taking appropriate action where it is needed.

Finally, is there anything else that you would like to add?   
The other thing that I a passionate about in my role is that, as a woman in a leadership position, I am keen to help empower and support other women, both in and out of the force.

Having worked across a number of specialisms in my Police career so far I am an advocate for other women who want to go into specialisms within the job (such as roads policing, public order, dog handling etc.) and will help support any woman in reaching their full potential and achieving their goals.  

Keep an eye on our website and social media channels this week to read more about the work of our Neighbourhood Policing Teams across the force. 

#InYourCommunity #NeighbourhoodPolicingWeek