An officer is hoping to reach out to all members in the community as she accepts a new role in the force.

Sergeant Leah McDermott, 43, has taken on the Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant for Bushey and Radlett after 15 years of service in Hertfordshire Constabulary.

She will be leading a team of six neighbourhood officers and six PCSOs to deal with issues affecting the community by getting her team to attend public events.

The team will also be working with Youth Connexions Hertfordshire’s Bushey Wheels, a youth project centred on motorcycles.

It helps young people learn to ride motorbikes in a safe environment and learn basic mechanics as an alternative to becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.

Sergeant McDermott said: “This is a completely new role for me and but I am thoroughly enjoying helping residents deal with short and longer-term issues that are affecting their quality of life with the help of our partner agencies, including Hertsmere Borough Council.

“No-one should have to put up with crime or anti-social behaviour and my team and I will do everything in our power to help improve residents’ quality of life.

“The issues that Bushey and Radlett residents are telling us they are concerned about is inconsiderate parking, especially during school pick up and drop off times, young people doing wheelies in the road and fly-tipping. These are our current neighbourhood priorities.

“As well as listening to local residents, my team will be executing warrants and being highly visible, spending the majority of their time out on the streets.”

The police officer of 15 years has spent much of her career in Hertsmere, starting as a civilian in the control room in 2002 before moving onto St Albans as an intervention officer and then moving to be a custody sergeant in Borehamwood.

She aims to work with agencies including housing associations to look at anti-social behaviour, which has links to other more severe crimes including thefts and drug abuse.

Sergeant McDermott takes over from Acting Sergeant Tom Prior who has moved on to the Borehamwood and Elstree neighbourhood team.