Police commissioner joins officers on night beat

WITHIN minutes of police crime commissioner Matthew Grove joining the night beat with police in Grimsby yesterday, he was at the scene of an assault in Freeman Street involving five people.

He had also picked up details of another assault near the Littlefield Lane level crossing where a man assaulted his ex-partner.

And in addition, officers were called to deal with an incident of domestic violence on a Grimsby estate.

The series of violent incidents came after the 4pm briefing at Grimsby Police Station when Mr Grove was introduced to the night turn officers.

Click on the console below to replay today's web debate with Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Grove:

At the Freeman Street assault he saw the aftermath of a beating by five men of another man aged about 34.

He was treated by an East Midlands Ambulance Service crew of paramedics for head injuries.

Mr Grove said: "The man did not want to make a complaint and refused to go to hospital and he is refusing to help police.

"It is a classic conundrum where the victim of a crime won't co-operate. What can officers do?

"They are left trying to work out if he is the victim of a crime. Or is he someone who has received some street justice?

"This is the sharp end of policing in Humberside."

The man was later arrested on suspicion of theft.

Mr Grove later tweeted that police were looking for a man in connection with an assault on a shopkeeper.

Earlier, Mr Grove said the only way he was going to check the public are getting a good police service and see first hand the demands on the Force, was by joining officers as they respond to calls for service.

He said: "I am there to hold the police to account to make sure they are delivering the service to local people. I can't do that just sitting at my desk pouring over statistics. It is vital I get out there and see what is happening.

"Also it is important to hear from officers what the issues are and what they need help with."

Mr Grove added: "What I have seen are committed officers working hard right across the Force area.

I want to make sure I am working with them to keep the people of the area safe.

"I take one day a week to go out and meet people and spend time with officers. I don't usually tweet, but when I go out with officers I use social media and do a tweet-athon. It allows them to get an impression of what I am seeing as it is happening."