A neighbourhood police officer has explained how he and his colleagues are motivated by a love of their home town.

Pc Kev Marshall, who has been policing Mansfield for most of his 21-year policing career, is one of a team of seven Pcs and PCSOS who patrol the town centre daily.

Known for his familiar cry of “get out of my town”, he was recently honoured with an ‘unsung hero’ award by Nottinghamshire Police as part of national neighbourhood policing week — seven days of action to shine a light on the vital role played by neighbourhood officers.

Pc Marshall, who worked as a financial advisor and salesman before joining Nottinghamshire Police in 2000, said:

“A lot of people who join the police make a conscious decision not to work in the area they live in, but my focus has always been on making my home town a better place to live and work.

“I was born here. It is where I was brought up and where I want to stay. I really care about the town and all the people who live and work here.

“I know Mansfield people and I think I know how to talk to them and understand them. They are a fantastic bunch of people on the whole and I think that deep down we all want the same thing — to make the town as prosperous and safe as it can be.”

As neighbourhood police officers PC Marshall and his colleagues spend their time patrolling on foot, talking and listening to residents, shop staff and business owners.

By working in partnership with organisations like the district council and Mansfield BID, their job is as much about preventing crime as arresting and fining people.

Over the last year he has helped to strengthen relationships with key partners and also devised a series of coordinated action days to bring a united response to some of the key challenges facing the town.

Pc Marshall added: “The three biggest challenges we face in the town centre are drug use, anti-social behaviour and shop theft. Those things may not always seem hugely serious on the face of it, but they can have a deeply damaging impact on the life of the town.

“For example, if people are worried about others behaving aggressively or anti-socially in the town centre they won’t come here and they won’t spend their money. So, when I confront people in the town centre for riding bikes or spiting or swearing, it’s not because I want to pick on them — it’s because they are damaging our town.

“As I often say to people, ‘if you want to spend a pound then come on down, but if you want to take a pound, or cause trouble, or upset other people then you can get out of my town.’

“It’s this more personal side to the job that I really enjoy – the chance to get to know people, to understand their problems and work out how to solve them.

“It really isn’t all about driving fast and rolling around on the floor with criminals, although we do still get to do a bit of the latter.

“I was thrilled to learn of this award, but ultimately it’s the result of a real team effort, including my colleague Pc Lou Marshall, and PCSOs Vicky Swann, Rachel Harvey, Tom Ford, Nick Wells and Steve Ratcliffe.

Supt Kevin Broadhead said: “Pc Marshall is a great advert for neighbourhood policing and is well known for the passion he feels for Mansfield, its people and its history.

“He spends every moment he can in the town centre, even on his days off. He is a great ambassador for the town and for Nottinghamshire Police.

“He and his colleagues are doing a terrific job and I have been delighted to present this award.”