Meet your new Sergeant for Welwyn Hatfield West
“I’m excited to take on my role and I’d like to take this opportunity to remind residents that they can get in touch with their feedback by using our community voice platform echo."
Sergeant Alex Smedley
Submitted by Bethany Peters
A new Sergeant has taken over the reins for the Welwyn Hatfield West Safer Neighbourhood Team, with Sergeant Dan Bales moving across to the South patch.
Sergeant Alex Smedley, who joined the West team on Saturday, April 3, is looking forward to working with the community and local partners to tackle the long-term issues affecting the area.
Having previously served on the North team as a PC covering Welwyn Garden City, town centre, Sgt Smedley brings with him a wealth of policing experience.
Between 2017 and 2018, Sgt Smedley introduced and led on Operation Brillo which targeted anti-social behaviour in the Woodhall and town centre areas of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
The operation saw a notable decrease in ASB, with many young people being guided away from trouble and towards a better future. As well as dedicated patrols in hotspot areas, a key element of the operation was close partnership work with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, local businesses and schools and colleges.
Sgt Smedley, who first joined the Constabulary as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in 2009, said: “I think it’s really important to take a joined-up approach to local issues and Operation Brillo certainly highlighted the benefits of that.
“Apart from a stint in East Herts, my police service has always been based in Welwyn Hatfield and my previous role was on the Hatfield Intervention Team (responding to 999 calls) so I know the area really well.
“I’m excited to take on my role and I’d like to take this opportunity to remind residents that they can get in touch with their feedback by using our community voice platform echo. I want to make every effort I can to help you so please do use echo and let us know what you’d like to see us prioritising.”
With Sergeant James Stopford moving to the Three Rivers Safer Neighbourhood Team, Welwyn Hatfield’s South team will now be led by Sergeant Dan Bales.
Residents will already be familiar with Sgt Bales as he served as the West Sergeant since May 2020.
Sgt Bales, said: “Welwyn Hatfield South is a fantastic area to live and work in and I want to make sure it remains that way.
"Having previously covered the West patch of Welwyn Hatfield, I have already built up good relationships with our local partners such as the council and so I’m excited to hit the ground running.
"I’ll be closely monitoring your feedback on echo so if there’s something you’d like to see us prioritise, please do submit it on echo so we can tackle the problem.”
You can use our community voice platform ‘echo’ to let the police know what you think they should be prioritising in Welwyn Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
Your feedback will help towards shaping local policing priorities, initiatives and campaigns. Visit bit.ly/police-welhat and tell them your thoughts.
You can also follow the police via social media: Twitter @HertsPolice, Facebook/HertsPolice, Instagram @HertsPolice
You can also follow the SNT on Facebook at facebook.com/welwynhatfieldpolice or on Twitter @WelHatPolice. To sign up to Neighbourhood Watch go to owl.co.uk.
