The city has a new Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant and Police Community Support Officer.

St Albans born, Sergeant Paul Caro is leading the city’s Central, North and West Safer Neighbourhood Team while Joshua Walton, covering Wheathampstead, has joined the Harpenden and Rural Neighbourhood Team. 

Paul, 34, who will be responsible for six police officers and seven PCSOs, joined the Hertfordshire Constabulary in 2007. 

Sgt Paul Caro

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

He started by responding to 999 calls in Hatfield before being promoted in 2013 to Sergeant having achieved the highest score in Hertfordshire for his law and procedure exam.

Prior to joining the Force, Paul studied psychology at Nottingham University.

He said: “Although I enjoy managing an intervention team, never knowing what we would be dealing with in ten minutes time, I’m very pleased to have a role where I can plan my time.

“I have taken over an excellent team of dedicated officers and my aim is to provide a visible police presence and develop a real understanding of the issues within the local community.”

Sergeant Caro, who grew up in the city and was a student at both Beaumont and Verulam Schools, specifically asked to be moved to the St Albans neighbourhood team.

PCSO Joshua Walton, who previously worked as a manager of a fashion store, took initial training in Letchworth. He also studied Public Services in Bletchley where he learnt about the police and fire services, and the army.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to join the police. My uncle was an officer in the Met. As a PCSO, you can help support victims and get them back up to where they were before it happened. 

“It’s all about helping people when they need it most.” 

PCSO Joshua Walton

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Joshua said he had been busy building up relationships with the public and neighbourhood shops and businesses in the area to aid tackling future crime. He is also keen to work with schools in St Albans. 

He recalled a proud moment being first on the scene during an arson at the Dogs Trust: “It wasn’t a nice situation. But I put my training into practice and found myself calm working under pressure. 

“You feel a huge sense of achievement doing everything in your power to control a potentially dangerous situation. You never know what to expect in this job and no two days are ever the same.” 

Joshua will replace PCSO Chloe Dagless and Sergeant Caro lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two children. He enjoys playing squash and football and watching all types of sport.