Helping the public in Sonning Commom

Mike Brennan, Front Counter volunteer

I started volunteering with Thames Valley Police in April 2002 after being approached by someone from Henley Police Station through Neighbourhood Watch who indicated they planned to open Sonning Common to the public, manned by volunteers.

I had been involved in the mid 90s in a Thames Valley Partnership arrangement in which TVP undertook to reform Neighbourhood Watch and so I had got to know many police officers at Reading, Sulhamsted, Slough etc.

My wife and I became co-ordinators for some 12 front counter volunteers at Sonning Common who after a years’ training at Henley Police Station opened to the public in 2004. The number of volunteers increased to 20 and we opened Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 17.00.

The principal satisfaction is being able to provide a link between the Police and members of the village community and getting to meet and socialise with the other volunteers.