Lydney

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.

Cath has over 11 years of policing experience, beginning her career in the Metropolitan Police before transferring to Gloucestershire in 2017. She has worked across both response and neighbourhood policing roles, gaining a wide breadth of operational experience.
Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2023, Cath moved to the Forest neighbourhood Policing team where she became responsible for a team of officers and PCSO’s covering the South of the Forest of Dean.
She is passionate about her role and is committed to leading the team to deliver the best possible service to the community
Cath is always looking for innovative approaches to long-term issues and believes in the power of strong local partnerships to drive meaningful change.

Rural and Environmental Crime Liaison Officer (RECLO)

Youth Engagement Officer

I have been a frontline officer for over 10 years, starting my career in West Mercia and transferring to Gloucestershire Constabulary in 2020. I started as a response officer and joined the Forest South Neighbourhood Team in 2025, as acting Police Sergeant.
I now cover the Lydney area and primarily focus on the issues around drug dealing and related offences and proactively address these local concerns with a high visibility presence.
I am also a public order officer which predominantly deals with crowd control and an officer safety trainer which equips officers the essential skills to keep themselves and the public safe.

Vulnerabilities Officer

I have been a Police Community Support Officer for just over 4 years covering the West Dean area, and recently the Lydney area has been added to my patch. My favourite part of the job is going in to the primary schools and nurseries, getting to know the children, showing that the police are friendly, and that we are there to help them. It makes my day when I’m on foot patrol and children recognise me and say hello, calling my name because they remembered me visiting their school.

With 19 years of dedicated service in policing, I am a Police Community Support Officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary, proudly serving the communities of Newent and the surrounding areas.
Throughout my career, I have undertaken a wide range of roles that reflect both the diversity and demands of modern neighbourhood policing. I have worked as a Farm Liaison Officer during the badger cull operations, building strong relationships with rural communities and supporting partnership efforts in challenging circumstances. I was also part of the Child Exploitation, Missing and Mental Health Team (CEMM), where I contributed to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and working collaboratively with partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes.
I have also been trained in suicide prevention and mental health first aid.
Passionate about early intervention and positive engagement with young people, I helped create and develop the Mini Police programme, fostering trust and understanding between children and the police while promoting community values and citizenship.
Now covering the Newent area, I remain committed to visible neighbourhood policing, problem-solving, and strengthening the connection between the police and the communities we serve.

Crime Prevention Officer