"Significant investment in the number of officers responding locally" has been promised after Staffordshire Police launched its new local policing model for the county yesterday.

The new model sees emergency response officers operate from 10 local areas alongside neighbourhood officers and PCSOs, with one of these areas being Leek.

Announced in February 2022 by the newly appointed Chief Constable, Chris Noble, it's hoped that the changes will enable officers to respond quicker to emergencies, develop enhanced local knowledge and provide a higher quality service for victims of crime.

The ten Local Policing Teams are:

1. Leek
2. Hanley
3. Newcastle
4. Longton
5. Stafford
6. Burton
7. Codsall
8. Cannock
9. Lichfield
10. Tamworth

Chief Constable, Chris Noble, said: "I'm pleased we are now on day one of the new model. It's been months of planning, analysis and consultation with colleagues and partners to build a model that will allow us to respond in the way the public want and need us to, also giving us more time to focus on the issues that matter most to local communities. The model has also received the backing of the Police and Crime Commissioner, who believes it will help deliver some of the commitments made in the county's Police and Crime Plan.

"It is critical we are more closely embedded in, and visible to, local communities so we can work most effectively with the public and partners to solve issues and prevent crime and I am confident this approach to policing enables greater ability to deliver against these aims."

Police also say bespoke harm reduction hubs will operate in every local policing area, designed to tackle high demand, high risk crimes and anti-social behaviour.

Chris Noble, added: "While we need to respond faster and more efficiently to emergencies, it's important we look at and understand the changing nature of crime and the complex and sustained numbers of call we have to respond to on a daily basis. Our Contact and Control Centre is key to informing our daily operations and significant work is being undertaken in order to achieve an improved service for the public at first point of contact."