POLICE in Selby have introduced a new Facebook group to communicate directly with their local community.

In a joint initiative with York St John University, Inspector Richard Abbott of the Selby Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team, has recruited the services of a student volunteer to administer the site which includes the latest news and appeals from the team.

The page, entitled Selby Rural Safer Neighbourhoods Policing, is designed to offer a new way for the police to communicate with residents in the district.

Inspector Abbot said: “The new group helps us to let local people know what we are doing in their area as well as county-wide news. It also includes updates on our local policing priorities which are the main concerns highlighted by local people.

“The group also provides us with a great way to get our messages out to new audiences who don’t necessarily use the traditional means of communication. For example, not many young people attend our local meetings, but by using Facebook, we can get our messages out to them and other on-line users. It also helps us be more specific to the local area and lets people know what we are doing, as their local police, to tackle the things that matter to them.

Members of the public can also leave comments so the group acts as a two-way means of communicating.

“It’s also another example of one of the many ways in which police volunteers can assist us in our day-to-day work. Our thanks go to York St John University for their assistance with the project.”

Anyone else wanting to volunteer for North Yorkshire Police should contact volunteers’ co-ordinator Sharon Tyler on 0845 6060247.