Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill has appointed a Volunteer Advocate in Boscombe. Helene Bowman-Brown has been resident in the area for the last five years and has strong links with the community.
Bowman-Brown will represent Underhill at community meetings, both as ears on the ground and as a point of contact for the community to reach the PCC. She is already Chair of the community group Friends of Roumelia Lane in the suburb of Bournemouth.
Boscombe is known for the challenges it faces due to antisocial behaviour and crime. It was featured in the national media in 2011 and 12 when a local landlord was focused upon for his below standard accommodation.
Bowman-Brown said of her new job, “By working with PCC Martyn Underhill and Dorset Police, I want to encourage members of the community to engage with the Force, and help them to cut crime. My vision is to make Boscombe a place where people feel safe in their homes and in their communities.”
Underhill said of the new role “Community issues are complex multi-agency challenges that need a lot of work. That is why I created a voluntary advocate role, which will allow a person well connected with the issue to help me to drive things forward in that area.”