It's Neighbourhood Policing Week — and across Avon and Somerset Police, officers, PCSOs, staff and volunteers are being celebrated for the role they play in keeping communities safe every day.

From school visits and problem solving to foot patrols and safeguarding, neighbourhood policing is about more than just presence — it's about connection, collaboration and long‑term impact. To mark the week, we're shining a spotlight on one of the dedicated people making a difference: Wells beat manager PC Darren Pearson.

For more than 20 years, PC Pearson has been the friendly face of policing in Wells — and he wouldn't have it any other way.

He joined Avon and Somerset Police in 2001, working as a response officer before moving into neighbourhood policing in 2009. Ever since, he's been out on foot and bike patrol across Wells, getting to know the people and streets that make the city unique.

Having lived and raised a family in Wells for over 30 years, PC Pearson knows the area inside out. "Being a neighbourhood officer allows me to have an influence over the city's safety," he said. "I care about this place — and I want people to feel they can talk to us and trust us."

From tackling everyday issues to making memories that will last a lifetime, he has become part of the fabric of the city. In 2012, when local Olympian Mary Rand was granted the Freedom of the City, he was trusted with looking after her Olympic medals — a gold, a silver and a bronze from the 1964 Tokyo Games. "I was terrified I'd lose them!" he recalls.

Closer to the heart of the community, one of his proudest achievements is "Cuppa with a Copper" — a regular drop‑in at The Blue School that he started in 2011. The initiative gives students the chance to ask questions, raise concerns and build trust with the officers serving their area.

With plans to retire in May 2027, PC Pearson is already looking to the future — and hoping the family tradition will continue. His son, Callum, is now a beat manager in Frome, and the veteran officer admits it would be a proud moment if he were to take over in Wells. "If Callum were to step into my role, I'd know the work we've started here would be in good hands," he said.