PCSO Ali Blood (right) with her colleague PCSO Maddie Highmoor, who works in Abingdon, Radley and Kennington.
Hello, I’m PCSO Ali Blood, dedicated to Abingdon Town Centre since 2008. For 16 years, I’ve been proud to work within the Abingdon Neighbourhood Team, which includes one Police Sergeant, four Police Officers, and eight PCSOs. Together, we support Abingdon Town, nearby villages and parts of Oxford.
Our team covers a four-week shift pattern to provide maximum coverage. Working with PCSO Susie Morley, we focus on community safety, visibility and proactive problem-solving for the town centre. Our top priorities right now include:
– Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG)
– Retail Theft & Fraud
– Anti-Social Behaviour
As Night Time Economy Lead, I support licensed venues, the Pubwatch scheme and the CCTV team to keep evenings safe. I’m also spearheading new safety initiatives, such as DISC, an online platform for local retailers to report incidents and collaborate on crime prevention. Recently, we registered over 25 retailers, helping strengthen Abingdon’s business community.
In addition to foot patrols and day-to-day policing, I coordinate the Storenet and Nitenet Radio Link, connecting shops, pubs and our team to respond quickly to issues. With the new neighborhood policing app, we can now track hotspot areas and adjust our patrols more effectively.
We’ve been tackling specific issues in places like Quakers Court and Magnette Close, where our efforts have brought noticeable improvements through resident meetings, patrols and Community Protection Warnings. I also lead monthly “Have Your Say” events with Age UK and regularly participate in local events like the Michaelmas Fair and Christmas Extravaganza, always aiming to build strong community ties.
Beyond policing, I stay involved with groups like Abingdon Pubwatch, Shopwatch, and Street Pastors, attend resident meetings and work closely with local schools. I manage our social media, sharing updates that keep everyone informed. Supporting Abingdon Town Council has been a rewarding partnership and I hope to keep this connection thriving.
This is just a glimpse of the work my team and I do daily to make Abingdon safer, stronger, and more connected.
