A NEW police unit has been set up to tackle the crimes people in Prestwich, Whitefield and Radcliffe are most affected by.

Inspector Ben Cottam, the new inspector for Bury South, launched the Investigative Support Unit (ISU) within days of taking the reins.

Insp Cottam, who has been in his new neighbourhood policing role for several weeks, previously worked as a detective for the Bury South division.

The ISU is made up of a specialist team of officers tasked with investigating and reducing the crimes most commonly plaguing the area.

Insp Cottam said: “In Bury South, burglaries from homes is something we need to target at the moment and that is a problem the ISU is already looking into.”

He said his one main piece of advice for residents is to make sure their houses, sheds and garages are secure, especially in the summer months.

Another initiative he hopes to pioneer is the increased use of restorative justice panels to tackle low-level crime.

The ‘unofficial community courts’, which are made up of panels of at least two community members, are an alternative to prosecution and the criminal justice process.

Insp Cottam explained: “There are elements of the restorative justice system we are not using well enough at the moment, but that is something which is going to change.

“There is a misconception about what restorative justice is, and false beliefs it is overly bureaucratic.

“It is one of my priorities to increase awareness of it both within the force and in the community to make sure these panels are used more often.”

Restorative justice panels can be used to punish offenders who have committed crimes such as public order offences, theft or criminal damage.

For one to be considered, the victim must be supportive of the process and the offender must have admitted guilt and shown remorse.

Offenders go before the panel and are held to account, offering a verbal or written apology to the victim, and can be made to pay for repairs. If they re-offend, they are prosecuted.

Insp Cottam said: “Because community members make up the panels, it makes the community more engaged in dealing with these crimes and aware of what is being done to tackle them.

“It is a more effective and appropriate way of dealing with many of the crimes that are reported to police.”

In the last fortnight, three offenders in Bury South have already been referred to restorative justice panels.

Insp Cottam’s other priorities include protecting vulnerable people – such as preventing cases of domestic violence and child sexual exploitation – reducing and raising awareness of hate crime, and effectively police upcoming events such as Parklife and the carnivals.

He added: “Another thing I hope to do is encourage the neighbourhood police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) to be more visible on the streets.

“It is a small but very effective thing we can do to reassure the community.”