PCC column: Looking at my latest work in and around Somerset

Many issues raised with me are consistent.

From Yeovil and Taunton to Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Glastonbury and in our rural communities, people want more visible policing, support for those in need, and the confidence that their concerns are being heard.

These concerns chime with the priorities in my Police and Crime Plan.

We are working with the constabulary to increase visible policing, improve victim support and ensure effective response.

In Yeovil, alongside MP Adam Dance, I brought residents, partners and decision-makers together to discuss anti-social behaviour (ASB), road safety, shoplifting and police resources.

Conversations like these help me ensure that the public has a direct voice in policing and I can feed back their concerns directly to the Chief Constable.

I also checked on the progress of the Yeovil Police Station refurbishment, which will be a major step in addressing some of these concerns.

The investment will provide a modern base for officers and staff serving South Somerset, helping strengthen neighbourhood policing in the area.

Neighbourhood teams across Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge and Glastonbury have also increased patrols in response to ASB, shoplifting and rural crime.

Through the Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, the arrival of 80 experienced officers into neighbourhood teams across Avon and Somerset is further supporting this work.

But creating safer communities is about more than policing alone.

Prevention and early intervention matter just as much.

At Somerset Domestic Abuse Service, I discussed the impact of my campaign on non-fatal strangulation and how the service's specialist support is helping adults, children and young people recover from domestic abuse.

At Nelson Trust Women's Centre, we discussed support for women facing trauma, abuse, addiction and poor mental health.

Through my Police and Crime Grant, I am supporting their work delivering trauma-informed interventions for women at risk of reoffending.

At Taunton College, discussions on safeguarding, exploitation, online safety and violence against women and girls reinforced the importance of giving young people the knowledge and confidence to make safer choices.

That is why I recently launched Pol-Ed, a free education programme for all schools across Avon and Somerset, with resources and lesson plans covering exploitation, consent, ASB, hate crime, wellbeing, responsible citizenship, and more.

I'm pleased that 22 schools in Somerset have already signed up.

For me, success is measured not just by initiatives being launched, but by outcomes: do people feel safer, is crime and harm reduced, and do communities have confidence in those working to keep them safe?

There is more to do, but I remain optimistic.

By continuing to listen, act and work together, we can build a safer Somerset.