Andy Blackwood appointed new police sergeant for Watford Outer region

Sergeant Andy Blackwood is taking on the mantle from his predecessor, Sergeant Matt Langley, who has taken up a role in workforce development based at Hertfordshire Constabulary's headquarters in Welwyn Garden City.

Sgt Blackwood, who began his role in May, first joined the constabulary in 2002 as a police constable based in Watford, after studying public services at West Herts College.

In 2005, he transferred to Hemel Hempstead and four years later, he joined the traffic team – now known as the road policing unit – in 2009.

In 2013, he returned to Hemel Hempstead where he studied for his sergeant’s exam. After passing in 2016, he returned to his roots in Watford where he led an Intervention Team up until May 1 this year, when he joined the Watford Outer safer neighbourhood team.

Sergeant Andy Blackwood

Sgt Blackwood, who now leads a team of 14 PCs and police community support officers, said: "I was born and bred in Watford which I think helps enormously because I know the area like the back of my hand.

"So when a member of the public talks to me about an issue in a particular location, I know exactly where they mean straightaway and we don’t have to waste valuable time ensuring we’re on the same page."

The new sergeant, whose patch covers West Watford, Holywell, Cassiobury, Nascot, Oxhey, and the outer parts of the town centre, says community engagement is "incredibly important" to him and he and his team will soon be setting out their new neighbourhood priorities.

Sgt Blackwood works alongside his colleagues Sergeant Ellie Berry, who leads the Watford Central safer neighbourhood team, and Sergeant Dave Elgy, who leads the Watford North safer neighbourhood team.