A new recruit to a neighbourhood police team hopes to "find the right solutions" to crime in the area.

PC Paul Francis joined the Potters Bar and Shenley Safer Neighbourhood Team in June.

Following a number of recent phone scams in Potters Bar, he said: "We are pleased the message about people pretending to be police officers to fraudulently obtain bank details has got out across the area.

"However, in the past few days, we have had about ten reported incidents in Potters Bar and Shenley. Following extensive media coverage, only one of the victims parted with their bank cards after a bogus courier arranged to pick them up from the elderly man."

PC Francis, 37, previously spent seven years working as an intervention officer in Borehamwood. He was awarded the Royal Humane Society Award in 2009, after he and two colleagues helped save a man from jumping off the A1 overbridge in South Mimms while the traffic was still moving below them.

He lives in East Hertfordshire with his family.

He added: "I've really enjoyed the last three months working on the neighbourhood team, meeting residents and speaking to businesses about how I can help resolve issues and concerns they have.

"I've really enjoyed taking ownership of problems and having the time to find the right solutions to anti-social behaviour and business crime."

PC Francis is currently dealing with theft and anti-social behaviour on the Cranbourne industrial estate.

Police and crime commissioner David Lloyd said: "I'd like to welcome PC Francis to his new post in the Potters Bar and Shenley Safer Neighbourhood Team and wish him well.

"Having locally-based officers like PC Francis is a key part of my vision for policing in the county as they do an excellent job and they, alongside PCSOs, often are the 'face' of the Constabulary for the people who live and work on their beat."

The team runs regular surgeries across Potters Bar and Shenley, where people can have their say in their neighbour priorities. Future dates can be found here.