An MP joined police on the beat to see the issues police face on the job.

MP for Harpenden and Hitchin Bim Afolami joined officers from the Harpenden Safer Neighbourhood Team on June 28.

He joined officers PC Art Wilkes and PCSO Josh Walton in St Albans town centre to see how they deal with shoplifting, burglaries and anti-social behaviour.

PC Wilkes said: “We discussed policing in the town and the issues of day to day policing that we face.

“We spoke about the security of bikes at the train station, shoplifting, stop and search powers and technology that has enabled us to be more mobile.

“We also spoke about how closely we work with other forces to share information about suspects and vehicles.”

On their patrol, the officers were handed a wallet that was found by a member of the public. They managed to reunite it with the owner later on during their shift.

PC Wilkes said: “The man was over the moon as they had just realised they had lost it and he was in the process of cancelling his cards.”