A NEW pilot safety scheme is being introduced by North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan with the aim of working together to keep the district safe.

The pilot is for a new public safety service which intends to bring together the police, fire and rescue, health service and local authorities.

The aim is to prevent vulnerability, reduce harm and solve problems in communities - particularly rural, isolated areas.

Two people from within the PFCC team have been recruited to the public safety officer roles in Craven and are currently in training ahead of beginning work on April 1 when the pilot goes ‘live’.

The idea, following satisfactory training, will be for them to bring together key public bodies with a remit to engage with residents, businesses and organisations across the district.

They will provide a visible, accessible point of contact in efforts to keep everyone safe and feeling safe.

A key aim is to ensure residents in rural areas, who can feel isolated from public bodies, have easier and better access to support.

Among the activities for the public safety officers during the pilot will be: • passing on crime prevention, fire safety and health and wellbeing improvement information to residents, in schools and the community, to prevent vulnerability and reduce harm.

• helping to identify, refer and solve local priorities by working collaboratively and liaising across different public bodies to find solutions.

• being part of the local policing team to solve community issues, including being responsible for early intervention; prevention and monitoring of anti-social behaviour and the construction of acceptable behaviour contracts.

• being part of the emergency services as local on-call crew with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and • being an emergency first responder with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The roles will be in place for at least the next 12 months and their impact will be continually monitored over that period.

Ms Mulligan said: “The best way of ensuring that North Yorkshire is as safe as possible, and feels as safe as possible, is by working together.

“The public safety service, with the officers we have just recruited, aims to do just that.

“They will be at the heart of our communities - a visible presence and a clear link between residents and key public services.

“My aim is to ensure they know what is happening on the ground, can work with those in the area to find solutions, and have access to the public bodies who can make that happen – whether the police, fire service, health service or local authorities.

“Over the next 12 months, I hope residents across Craven see the difference the public safety officers make.

"We will be watching closely to ensure we can use what we learn across the rest of North Yorkshire.”

Further details of the officers who have been recruited to the role will be announced prior to the pilot starting in spring.

Further details of how they can be contacted will also be announced.