THE way local police communicate with their communities is changing, according to Bude’s neighbourhood beat manager.

PC Stephen South, neighbourhood beat manager for Bude, gave an insight into Devon and Cornwall Police’s new alert system, which is being rolled out across the force area this month, to Bude-Stratton Town Council at their recent full council meeting on Thursday, December 1.

The new alert system is a free service, and uses a secure server, allowing communities to send and receive messages, as well as where and when messages are received, after a simple registration process to ‘get you in the know’ about the local community.

Devon and Cornwall Alert is a two-way community messaging system, operated by Devon and Cornwall Police, the meeting heard.

The system helps officers to connect with their communities, telling people what is happening in their area and allowing them to respond directly with any information.

PC South explained that the system is designed to allow people who register to the service to choose the type of information they would like to receive concerning crime and anti-social behaviour, witness appeals, crime prevention, community events and local good news.

Subscribers will not be notified about every crime or incident that happens within their community.

The aim is to send relevant information, of which is hoped will reduce the opportunity for crime and anti-social behaviour, and may assist Devon and Cornwall Police to solve a crime.

For those interested, register at alerts.dc.police.uk.