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Hello all, I haven’t posted much lately as I’ve been away on annual leave, but I’m pleased to be back and have had a really productive day today getting out into my wards and catching up with residents and businesses. I thought I’d update you on what I’ve been doing: I have intervened off-duty several times recently to deter a prolific shoplifter from stealing from a local store in one of my wards. Following this I decided today to visit several times on patrol and caught the same male red-handed with a holdall of stolen chocolate. This had just occurred and meant that over £130 of stolen items were able to be returned to the store in a saleable condition. I obtained witness statements and other evidence from staff, and the suspect was arrested and remains in custody!Following my earlier arrest, I remained on patrol and recognised another known shoplifter walking away from a store with a full holdall. I detained him for a stop search and recovered a further £110 of stolen goods within two minutes of the theft. This male was also arrested and the goods returned! I obtained statements and CCTV and the investigation teams will be seeking charges. I have carried out 15 kilometres of foot patrol today solely in my wards, focusing on areas which residents have raised to me as being troublesome. As part of this I searched for a dumped stolen motorbike, helped colleagues in the investigative departments to arrange an interview for a suspected shoplifter, and engaged with residents and business owners. I responded to reports of a missing seven-year-old who thankfully was noticed by eagle-eyed members of the public. My colleagues and I returned him home and carried out some safeguarding.I have also conducted two stop searches today under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 having noticed some suspicious behaviour. Both of these searches located cannabis and the suspects were given an out of court disposal each, aimed at preventing recurrence and educating them. The cannabis will be destroyed.My colleagues and I responded to a report of intruders on a building site which was a false alarm with good intent. I hope these updates are useful and interesting and give people an opportunity to see what I’ve been doing if they can’t make any of my police surgeries. If you know of people who would like to know what their local officer gets up to, please do encourage those you know to sign up for My Community Voice, I need your help to spread the word! Warm regards, 
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