In the last 12 months, the team have dealt with a range of different issues in the area and say that they have received a lot of positive feedback from the community.

PCSO Sarah Gibson joined the team in December last year and said that in the last 10 months, a host of initiatives have been put in place to tackle local crime.

“When I first started there was a problem with vehicles being driven unlawfully without tax and insurance,” she said.

“We liaised with the DVLA and enlisted the help of the road policing unit and conducted regular patrols in the area. We monitored vehicles to make sure they were complying with the law and reported offenders to the DVLA.”

And during the spring time, PCSO Gibson said the team tackled nuisance motorbikes in Lea Park.

“There was quite a problem with off-road bikes being used illegally on common lanes. It was really causing distress for the community and they were dealt with robustly by ourselves and issued a warning. If caught again, their vehicle was seized. Now, the problem has definitely decreased and we are getting lots of positive comments from the public.”

And in the last six months, PCSO Gibson revealed that the team had been focusing on combating drug abuse and under-age drinking in the south west area of Gainsborough.

“We have been patrolling these areas more, including Pocket Park, where youths have been congregating. We have seized alcohol and increased our patrols to show that we are watching the situation. While the problem has decreased, it’s still one of our priorities,” she said.

Another of the team’s focuses is speeding along Gainsborough Road in Lea, and regular visits with portable speed cameras has reduced the problem dramatically.

“The speed limit on the road is only 40mph. People were concerned as it is a major road used to get to and from Lincoln. Since April, we have been monitoring vehicles on the road and also enlisted the help of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership,” said PCSO Gibson.

The team was also asked to combat a recurring problem on Carr Lane, Gainsborough, where culprits were throwing bricks and material at passing vehicles.

“It started off with a couple of incidents and then escalated. It’s an isolated road and someone was using a footpath covered by vegetation to throw things at passing cars and lorries.”

“The vegetation has now been cut away and we have been doing extra patrols, and to date, incidents have all but stopped.