Shoppers can now check out their local Safer Neighbourhoods Team when they go to do their shopping as Warwickshire Police opened a new Safer Neighbourhoods office at Sainsbury's Leamington Spa store on Thursday 4th September. The new office is situated behind the checkouts.

The office which is one of only a few police posts across the country to be located in supermarkets is within Warwick Central Safer Neighbourhoods Team area. However it will be available for other teams in the Warwick district to use as shoppers at the store come from across a wider area.

The teams will not be based full time at the office but will use it whilst working around the area and as a public drop in centre, as their focus is to be working out in the community. Members of the public will be able to meet the team at the office and dicuss any concerns. Opening hours will vary but will be clearly displayed.

Over 35,000 people shop at the Leamington store every week and this number is expected to rise after the refurbishment, making it a fantasic opportunity for Safer Neighbourhood Teams to engage with the public and find out the concerns of local people.

Also displayed will be contact details for all the Warwick district Safer Neighbourhood Teams so that people can contact their local team when they are not at the office.

David Whitehouse from Warwickshire Police Community Protection Department said: "I have seen Safer Neighbourhoods grow since the autumn of 2006 and this new location shows how successful our teams have been at getting out into the heart of the community. The aim has always been for teams to be accessible and visible and this new office location fulfills both of these aims. It offers the public a convenvient way of contacting their local team."

Chair of Warwickshire Police Authority, Mr Philip Blundell, said: "The Police Authority welcome the support of Sainsbury's in providing an office for the local Safer Neighbourhood Team on their Leamington Spa site. The SNTs are the foundation for the delivery of local policing and protecting our communities from harm. We look forward to this being a successful partnership."

Sainsbury's Leamington Spa store manager Phil Harris said: "We are delighted to offer the Safer Neighbourhoods team this space on site which will help them engage with the community. We know this type of partnership has worked well in other parts of the country and Sainsbury's is very keen to work in partnership with local projects that support local communities."

This new location is one of many community focussed locations for Safer Neighbourhood Teams currently open in Warwickshire. Other locations include offices in schools, village halls and partnership locations and there are plans for more offices in creative locations in the future.