POLICE officers have gone beyond the call of duty by using their day off to help an elderly victim of crime.

PCSOs Surinder Marway, Stuart Bradfield and PC Jane Hendy from the Slough neighbourhood team spent a day helping tidy the garden of a 90-year-old burglary victim.

The woman had her shed broken into and tools stolen in February, and the officers spent Thursday, May 26 tidying up her garden, cutting back bushes and removing rubbish.

The overgrown garden meant that the Slough resident had become an unduly target, and only days before she was burgled someone had cold-called at the address offering to do some gardening.

PCSO Marway said: “When I went across to see this lady, it was clear that the burglary and her being exploited had paid a detrimental effect on her confidence and trust. In the absence of family and due to her age, we felt that she needed support and reassurance and that’s why we chose to help her in our own time.

“The overgrown garden was clearly attracting unduly attention with some people perhaps even thinking it was a derelict property.

“Whilst policing is about catching criminals and placing them behind bars, it is also about helping to reduce crime and providing reassurance and support to victims of crime, in particular to those who are vulnerable within our communities.”

When PSCO Marway visited the victim in relation to the shed break, she discovered the victim had recently paid someone £400 after they had also door knocked offering to remove rubbish from her garden.

Upon inspection, PCSO Marway discovered that the rubbish had not been removed but dumped around the corner.

Insp Nicola Pierce, who heads the neighbourhood South team in Slough, said: “I am very proud of Surinder, Stuart and Jane who have gone above and beyond by doing such an incredible act during their rest day.”