Cinderford

My name is Nick Cook and I am the Neighbourhood Inspector responsible for the Forest of Dean.

I joined Gloucestershire Constabulary in 2005 and have worked previously in roles in the Force Response Unit, the Licensing team and the Force Control Room. However, some of my favourite memories were from working in a community role as an anti-social behaviour officer, where I was able to make a positive difference towards improving the quality of life for the community.

My aim is to not only make the Forest of Dean a safe place, but also to make the Forest of Dean feel safer for those who live and work here. This is why it is important that your Neighbourhood team build strong relationships with the community, listen and understand the concerns of the community, and provide a service that is accessible.

I am proud to lead Neighbourhood Policing in a part of our county that I feel very passionate about.

My name is Nick Wheeler and I am the Neighbourhood Sergeant responsible for the North Forest of Dean. This includes the areas around the towns of Newent and Cinderford.

I joined Gloucestershire Constabulary in 2007 and whilst I have spent time working in Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham in both response policing and intelligence departments, the vast majority of my career has been spent working within the Forest of Dean across Response and Neighbourhood.I have always enjoyed proactive policing and I get great satisfaction from disrupting criminals and catching them in the act, particularly those involved in drug supply and acquisitive crimes which cause great harm to the community.

Throughout my 18 years in the Constabulary I have been a great affinity for the Forest of Dean and am passionate about making it safer for the communities that live there and for making it harder for criminals to operate.

I am a police constable in the Forest North Neighbourhood team and cover the area of Cinderford. I have only been in the police 3 years and for most of that time have been based in the Reactive Investigation Team. Although I have not been in the neighbourhood team that long I am passionate about supporting the communities that I serve and building a strong relationship with them through engagement.

Rural and Environmental Crime Liaison Officer (RECLO)

I have served in policing for almost 18 years, beginning my career in 2007 as a Police Community Support Officer in the Forest of Dean. Starting as a PCSO gave me a strong foundation in community-based policing and the importance of being visible, approachable and listening to local concerns.
In 2015, I joined Gwent Police as a Police Constable, working as a response officer in Maindee, Newport. In 2019, I transferred back to the Forest of Dean, continuing in response policing. I became a Tutor Constable in 2022, mentoring 13 new officers as they began their careers.
In 2024, I joined the Forest North Neighbourhood Team. I am passionate about being open, transparent and fully engaged with the communities I serve. Building strong relationships and keeping local people at the heart of policing priorities is central to everything I do to help keep the Forest of Dean safe.

Youth Engagement Officer

Vulnerabilities Officer

I am a Police Community Support Officer and have worked most of my career covering Cinderford. I love being able to get out and about within the community. I especially enjoy attending local schools and positively engaging with the students about prevention advice and the role of police. As one of the PCSO’s covering Cinderford, I focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and drug-related harm while building positive relationships with young people in our community. I believe early intervention and strong partnership working are key to preventing crime and supporting those who may be vulnerable or at risk. Being visible, approachable, and proactive is central to my role, ensuring Cinderford remains a safe and supportive place for everyone.

I have been a Police Community Support Officer for over 19 years within the Forest of Dean. Previously covering areas such as Tidenham Parish, Coleford Town, smaller villages along the A48 corridor and now covering Cinderford Town as part of the Forest North Neighbourhood Policing Team. I am also a PCSO Tutor and I have supported several new recruits through the first stages of their Policing Career. I strongly believe in being accessible and providing reassurance to the local community through high visibility foot patrols.

With 18 years of dedicated service as a Police Community Support Officer, I have built a career rooted in community engagement, problem-solving, and visible neighbourhood policing.
I began my service based at Cheltenham Road East Police Station covering Churchdown, Innsworth and surrounding areas before moving to Tewkesbury Police Station. Through my time in these areas, I developed strong working relationships with residents, local businesses, and partner agencies. These early years shaped my commitment to proactive community policing and partnership working.
I later transferred to the north of the Forest of Dean and now cover Blakeney, Newnham, Drybrook and Ruardean. I enjoy supporting vulnerable individuals, working closely with schools and community groups, addressing anti-social behaviour, and strive to build safer, stronger neighbourhoods.
Throughout my career, I have remained committed to visible policing, open communication, and fostering trust between the police service and the communities I serve.

Crime Prevention Officer