Neighbourhood policing teams across Oxfordshire are working with partners and the community to tackle issues that affect people's quality of life. Neighbourhood policing is about putting the 'local' back into local policing.

It is about making sure that the police, working with other agencies provide the service that people want by tackling those issues that are important to local residents.

Each neighbourhood, or group of neighbourhoods, has its own team made up of police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs or wardens whose entire focus is on that area.

Ninety-eight police officers and 158 PCSOs currently work in teams across the county, consulting with the public, holding public meetings setting up police surgeries and basing themselves in local buildings allowing the team to become closer to the community.

The Barton Neighbourhood Team in Oxford, which has moved into the local community centre, has set up weekly surgeries giving residents the opportunity to visit and discuss any issues or concerns.

Neighbourhood Sergeant, Yak Teladia, said: "One of the things a lot of people say about the police is that they don't see enough officers and PCSOs on the beat. By having this small base we are maximising the time the neighbourhood team stay in the area".

"It means the officers and PCSOs in Barton will remain in Barton for their entire shift. Now we feel part of the community rather than being distant from it." Neighbourhood teams have also received a new gadget which will allow them to spend more time out and about. Officers and PCSOs now have hand-held computers called BlackBerrys, which combine their phone, e-mail and calendar. The devices also give them access to the police national computer (PCC) system.

The hand-held devices allow the team to stay out longer on the beat and cut down travelling time as they won't need to go back to their station every time they need to access information from a computer.

One of the officers who has benefited from the new BlackBerrys i Bicester Town Centre Neighbourhood Specialist Officer, PC Nicki Entwistle.

She was recently named as the Oxfordshire finalist in this year's Thames Valley Police Community Officer of the Year Awards.

Nicki, who was one of the first officers to qualify as a neighbourhood specialist officer, said: "I am honoured to have won the award, especially because I was nominated by those within the community. I love community policing because of the involvement I have with local people, and I get to make a difference".

"The roll-out of neighbourhood policing has been a very exciting time and working with the PCSOs has been a real privilege".

"We, as a team, do our best every day to combat the issues that have been identified by the community to make our neighbourhood a better place to live."

To find out more about neighbourhood policing and your local team visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk