The new Chief Inspector for the Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) policing area has hit the ground running since starting on Tuesday, 3rd May.

Ronnie Lungu, 47, has been in the police service for nineteen years, but was previously a white-water rafting instructor.

CI Lungu joined the police in Wiltshire in 2003 before joining Avon and Somerset Police as an inspector in 2019.

He worked as a critical incident manager, leading a team of officers responding to emergencies across BANES and south Bristol.

Most recently, he has been on a secondment to the College of Policing, the national professional body for everyone working in policing.

CI Lungu has spent his policing career in uniformed roles in neighbourhood and response policing and says what attracted him to the job was the combination of public service and working with people.

Now, as an area commander, Ronnie is responsible for the neighbourhood officers who patrol from the newly refurbished Bath Police Station in Manvers Street and the police base in the city’s Midland Road, as well as bases in Keynsham and Radstock.

He said: “Community engagement and community work, that’s what I’m passionate about. I’m very familiar with Bath but being new in this role I do want to hear about your concerns and priorities. I’m keen to get out and about across the area, so if you see me do please speak to me.

“I’ve been told already about some of the excellent work being done by officers and staff in the B&NES area, focusing on priorities such as reducing anti-social behaviour, especially within the city centre, targeting perpetrators of violence against women and girls and making sure our night time economy areas are safer spaces for everyone.

“My role is to ensure that our brilliant officers and staff continue to deliver on our commitment to give the best possible service to the public.

“All our communities should feel their voices are being heard and have trust in us. I want people to feel confident in reporting crime and anti-social behaviour and in letting us know if they’re worried about someone’s safety. We need that support and help from our communities to keep people safe.

“The real moments of pride for me, as a police officer, are when you get that phone call, or email or card from someone saying ‘thank you’ for helping them when they were at their most vulnerable.

“Those are the moments when you think ‘I’m in the right place, doing the right thing’.

“I would also like to thank my predecessor, Steve Kendall, who has been the area commander for the last five years and has now been promoted to superintendent. I’m really keen to continue his great work.”

What are the Chief Inspector’s aims?

Perpetrator Challenge - Target the perpetrator of a crime, not the victim.

Prioritising Violence Against Women and Girls - working with Safe Street campaign to make sure safe spaces are provided.

Independent Advisory Groups - working with the community to make sure all voices are heard:

Local people are helping the Police shape their responses to current issues and future strategies by getting involved in ‘Independent Advisory Groups’ (IAGs).

IAGs are a positive attempt to involve local people in local policing issues and, through their networks, to spread the word to all residents. Members give up their time, usually once a quarter, to discuss local issues and comment, sometimes critically, on Police procedures.

Through this partnership, you can help the Police to be the best they can possibly be, working with us, for our communities, to protect all residents and keep you and your family safe.

At the moment our priorities are reducing Anti-social behaviour (ASB), Creating Safe Spaces and Violence Against Woman and Girls (VAWG).

We are looking for diverse opinions and advice by putting together a group of diverse volunteers, including young people, people from seldom heard communities and people with protected characteristics as covered by the Equality Act 2000.

If you are living, studying or working in Bath, Radstock, Keysham, Midsomer Norton and surrounding villages and want to help shape local policing, we’d like to hear from you.

The Area Commander spoke on the IAG initiative, saying: “I am looking for individuals who are passionate about policing in their areas to join us create a genuine partnership. Through this partnership you will be acting as a ‘critical friend’ to constructively advise and challenge me and my team.

“You will be able to challenge conventional thinking, give an independent perspective on issues and to work as genuine partners with the police to improve policing.

“It is really important for me to ensure I get as much counsel from local people and their lived experience. I am also keen that all areas of BaNES are covered, and everyone feels represented within the group to allow diversity of thought and look.”

To get involved, email [email protected].