Merry Christmas, from the Rochdale East Neighbourhood Policing Team

So here we are then, finally days away from Christmas. Each year, the build-up to Christmas seems to get longer and longer and yet – without fail – I manage to be caught out with presents still waiting to be bought with days to go.

This should be a happy time when we can all take time to forget about work and all the other pressures we have in our lives and to spend a few days with our families and loved ones.

It is probably not a time of year when anyone wants to read about what the crime statistics look like; and so, instead, I will briefly offer some of my own experience about the issues we see over Christmas and a bit of advice on avoiding those issues.

Christmas brings families together. Often it is the one time of year when the entire family will meet up together. Sometimes that is due to living far apart; in other cases, it is because there may be friction between family members.

At Christmas, you may find yourself in company of family members who you are not fond of and combined with alcohol, this can be a risky combination. Please remember who you are and that nobody wants a Christmas where police are called to try and resolve an exchange of words which has escalated.

Drink driving is a problem around Christmas and Christmas Day seems to make otherwise sensible people take risks that they would never take on any other day. A walk down the pub on Christmas Day with my dad is a tradition of ours. A couple of pints and back to the house for Christmas dinner.

This only works if you walk (or someone offers to be designated driver in the Christmas spirit). Please don't be tempted to drive if you partake in this tradition. I have arrested people for drink driving on their way home after their traditional couple of pints before dinner and I am sure others will be arrested this Christmas Day as well.

There are also people for whom Christmas is not a happy time. Christmas can bring sharp focus into the holes in your life – loved ones lost, broken families, loneliness.

For these people, Christmas can be a painful experience and one where their own sadness feels all the more acute as they see others feeling happy and surrounded by loved ones. For some, this can make their own life suddenly go from being painful to unbearable.

Please consider people in your lives who might not be having a happy Christmas this year and your neighbours who might be isolated. The smallest gesture, even popping round to say ‘Merry Christmas’ on the day itself might mean a great deal to that person.

I was able to go along to the Littleborough Christmas lights switch-on, but did it off-duty and kept a low-profile. It was another moment where I felt very proud to be part of such a wonderful community. Evenings like that here you see how many good people are in the area make me more determined to make a positive difference. The Neighbourhood Team have been running night-time operations throughout the month to prevent those awful burglaries where presents are stolen.

Finally, thank you to all my colleagues across all emergency services and other agencies who will be working on Christmas Day. Giving up their own one day a year to be with their loved ones to instead keep us all safe.

I have been in the position of telling family when I am scheduled to work Christmas Day and whilst loved ones are always supportive, their disappointment is visible. I am sincerely grateful for the sacrifices you all make.

To you all – colleagues and community, I wish you a very Merry Christmas; I hope you all have a brilliant day.

And to those who do not celebrate Christmas, I hope you get the opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones over the period.

Inspector Robert MacGregor