Inspector to leave town

The top police officer in Worksop feels he is leaving the area in the strongest position it has been in for many years.
Insp Steve Cartwright  (w121001-3a)Insp Steve Cartwright  (w121001-3a)
Insp Steve Cartwright (w121001-3a)

Inspector Steve Cartwright said crime was down 10 per cent at the end of the financial year and anti-social behaviour has reduced by more than 20 per cent.

He is preparing to step down in his role as neighbourhood inspector for the West Bassetlaw area following his promotion to chief inspector of operations in Nottingham.

Insp Cartwright said: “I will miss the people, the big personalities and the local teams and everybody that I have had to deal with - the partner agencies, the voluntary sector etc.”

“I think Bassetlaw is probably the strongest it has been for a number of years.”

“Although we all come from different organisations everyone is pulling together towards a common goal to make Bassetlaw a better place to live, work and visit.”

Insp Cartwright said he was most proud of the work he had been involved in around vulnerable people and places.

The work included helping a man who was subject to bullying and anti-social behaviour get the support he needed and assisting a 93-year-old woman whose home was attacked by youths throwing eggs and biscuits.

But he called on people to change their perception of the town.

“I live in Bassetlaw and I will stay here. People dumb down Worksop and there is a lot of negativity said about it,” he said.

“I am a person who likes positivity. Worksop is geographically ideally situated. It has got the Dukeries, Clumber Park and the estate around it and is near Sheffield and Meadowhall. The cinema is bringing a lot to that end of the town, the new comedy club on Newcastle Avenue is bringing something different and there are a lot of employers in the area.”

“Worksop has its past and never wants to lose its heritage but it has to move forward.”

Insp Cartwright thanked the public for providing officers with intelligence and hoped they will continue to support his replacement, inspector Phil Davies.

“The people of Worksop have been very supportive of me and the team as a whole. The public have stood up and offered us information to enable us to get the bad people in court and thank you to them - they need to continue to do that. The more people who stand up the more threatened the criminal element feel.”