Good afternoon. We hope you’re all okay. We just wanted to share with you today’s unofficial pocket notebook entry for New Forest District Commander, Chief Inspector Scott Johnson (we can’t share the actual one, for rather obvious and confidential reasons). Anyhow, it goes a little something like this.

11.00am – On a single-crewed patrol of Totton in a vehicle.

11.07am – Report received of shoplifting and assault on staff at Asda, Maynard Road.

11.07am – Very near to the location and responding on blues and twos to the Grade One incident.

11.10am – Carrying out an area search for the two suspects, who have now since left the store.

11.15am – Spot a man matching the description given of one of the suspects. Detain man.

11.22am – Man taken off to custody.

In summary, if your image and perception of senior police officers is that they’re primarily station and deskbound during the course of their daily duties, then you may want to have a rethink.

In addition to their core role, they are also regularly out and about, supporting their amazing teams and officers at a variety of incidents, further evidenced by Chief Inspector’s Johnson’s work earlier today (Wednesday 2 April).

The man he detained, within eight minutes of the call first being received, was a 25-year-old from Smethwick, West Midlands.

He was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them ABH, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and shoplifting. He remains in police custody at this time.

Items were also seized, including drug paraphernalia and a bradawl woodworking tool.

Officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and enquiries are ongoing in relation to the second suspect. We’ll do our very best to keep you all updated as much as we can.

*Grade One – An incident in which officers will respond as quickly as possible, with lights and sirens.