onionbagblog

It is a sign of the times when your local police station closes and the local copper turns to twitter. A huge congratulations then to @SgtLouMiddleton, the Neighbourhood Sergeant for the Wivenhoe Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Lou has signed up to the social media platform and instantly opened up his work to the local community. 140 characters is no substitute to visible community policing, something that the good Sgt and his team already carry out around the town.

As Lou’s twitter profile also so rightfully states, twitter isn’t the correct platform in which to contact the police concerning a crime:

“Please don’t report crime here – use 999 if urgent or 0300 3334444.”

Something tells me that Lou has recently completed some form of social media training. His wonderful use of the service over the past week is a textbook example in how to engage with Wivenhoe locals, both online and offline.

All the basic twitter etiquette is in place – hashtags, @replies and returning the follow favour to anyone who shows an interest in the @SgtLouMiddleton account.

But it is the way that Lou has used his twitter account to keep in touch with local people that is twitter perfection personified.

Plus I rather like the way in which the old Nottage building and the Black Buoy have been used as the background image.

On a #hyperlocal level and this is a really significant moment. There is already a growing twitter presence around the town, with local folk using the service to make contact online, and then to organise offline co-operation and activities.

Having a very public figure participating in this process has to be a tremendous step forward. The next move would be to try and encourage all four of our Colchester Borough Councillors to become involved, and hopefully the Wivenhoe Town Councillors as well.

Twitter is all about the network and conversation – who you follow and who follows you. People often ask me who should I follow?

Well…

I’ve made a Wivenhoe list of local people that I am aware of. Please do let me know if you want to be included. My advice is usually to have a look at who I am following, and then see who my followers are following. An offline connection is normally already in place.

As Lou has been demonstrating – twitter is not a broadcast medium: it is a place for conversation and dialogue. This works rather well in Wivenhoe.

And so welcome @SgtLouMiddleton to twitter. Not wanting to go into #hyperlocal hyperbole, but this is a very welcome moment for Wivenhoe. Twitter is only the means to the end – the local conversation that then follows is more significant.