MORE police officers will be taken under the church’s wing as a scheme to build stronger community links is expanded.

Police in Abingdon have been running a ‘Adopt-A-Cop’ scheme for the past year.

Officers have formed close links with 17 places of worship to reduce crime levels in the area and build community relations.

The scheme has proved so successful that it is about to be launched in Didcot and other towns across the local police area, which covers South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

Acting Chief Insp Ian Money said: “The fundamental idea of Adopt-A-Cop is that local PCSOs make contact on a regular basis with church representatives.

“Once the PCSO and the church representatives have developed a rapport, officers can offer help with community events and advise on crime reduction such as metal thefts, which is on the rise.

“Some good work has developed from this scheme, which includes our involvement in a youth club on the Peachcroft estate and links with the Salvation Army to help them with ideas for community projects.

“We welcome the recent introduction of the street pastors and the support we give each other to help ensure that we have a safe night-time economy.”

PCSO Susie Shepherd added: “Adopt-A-Cop has been very successful so far.”

Last month, the Rev David Fleming, the minister at the Baptist Church in Ock Street, spoke of his disappointment after thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of lead from the church roof.

It was the latest in a number of town centre buildings to be targeted by lead thieves.

About 20 metres of metal was stripped from the roof between 3pm on Sunday, November 13, and 8am the next day.

Mr Fleming, who sometimes patrols the town centre as a street pastor, said: “I think Adopt-A-Cop is an excellent idea.It was piloted on the streets of Brixton a few years ago.

“Police in this area work very hard to establish good links with the community and we are happy to help.”

Mr Fleming said the stolen lead was security marked with a code that can be read under ultra-violet light.

He added: “It would be nice if the lead was traced back to us one day.”