Trowbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team is able to increase its visibility during the winter months, following a grant of £1,750 from Trowbridge Area Board last Thursday.

The money will be used to provide a pop-up police station to be used exclusively by the Trowbridge team, which they can take out into the villages and town centre to enhance police presence.

It is the latest move from the Trowbridge NPT to increase their visibility on patch, with officers also using bicycles to get around and doing admin work in public thanks to 3G and Wi-Fi enabled laptops.

Trowbridge police sergeant Jim Suter said: “There is currently only one pop-up station for the force, which is at police headquarters, and we have to bid for it if we need it. It makes it difficult if we want it quickly.

“It’s basically a gazebo that can be folded up and it is very easy to use. We are pushing the use of mobile IT and we are currently trialling 3G laptops and tablets to get out in the community more.

“We are now able to check emails out and about rather than coming back to the office, but with the winter months now coming, the pop up station will help us to continue increasing our visibility.”

The area board unanimously accepted the project, which was a councillor-led application by Graham Payne, and granted the full £1,750 to the Trowbridge NPT.

Officers used the only pop up station available last Wednesday to launch the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Messaging scheme, which allows people to send free messages by email, text or voicemail about policing and crime matters. For details visit www.wiltsmessaging.co.uk