Today's columnist, Chris Lewis: We're here to keep you safe

I'd like to start by wishing everyone across Sheffield a Happy New Year and I hope that 2016 has started well for you.

If you are like me, you will have made a list of New Year’s resolutions and will spend most of January working hard to keep them.

Keeping fit, keeping in touch with family and friends and completing a challenge are always among the most popular resolutions and I wish you the best of luck with your chosen resolutions.

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If you have yet to make a resolution, then why not make thinking more about protecting yourself and your property a priority for 2016.

With January, comes the New Year sales and a large increase in the numbers of people hitting the shops to find a bargain.

Please do remember to think about a few basic crime prevention measures when you are out and about as large crowds in confined areas can attract people looking for an opportunity.

Think about your bag, purse and valuables – is your bag zipped up? Is your phone out of reach? Do as much as you can to keep your items safe and away from pickpockets or sneak thieves.

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As your local policing team, our resolution is the same no matter what time of year it is. We are here to prevent and detect crime and to work within communities to keep you safe.

We are here to provide a visible and dedicated police service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Along with our police community support officers, we are assisted by a local support unit which focuses on investigations, anti-social behaviour, children and school-related matters and offender management.

We are also supported by serious crime teams and specialist resources, including firearms and public protection officers.

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Without your help and information, however, many of the convictions we have secured throughout 2015 would have not taken place.

In many cases, it is thanks to the information you have given us that offenders are behind bars, so thank you for your invaluable support.

Our aim for 2016 is to continue to bring those breaking the law to justice and I encourage you to continue to get in touch to report anything you think seems suspicious.

Don’t worry if you think that you are wasting our time, if you have information please let us know so we can investigate it thoroughly.

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In 2016, let’s make the streets of Sheffield and South Yorkshire as a whole a safer place and continue to work together.

We have our own Facebook page which will keep you up to date with what is happening in Sheffield East and you can also follow us on Twitter @SheffieldEastLPT.

If you have any direct questions or need help with crime prevention advice you can also email us via [email protected].

You can report crime anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111 or South Yorkshire Police on 101.

* Chris Lewis, Inspector, Sheffield East local policing team