By Darren McSweeney

Last updated at 16:40, Monday, 25 February 2013

SO what do the phrases “Lay off the Lambrini” and “Pork Scratching Pincher” have in common?

Darren McSweeney

Those amongst you who are familiar with a certain social media network may recognise them better when they are written as #LayOffTheLambrini and #PorkScratchingPincher.

They’re both Twitter “hashtags” from a list of many that have been used recently by those manning the Barrow Police account on the social network.

I’ve been “following” Barrow Police for a good while; I guess it’s better than be followed by them! Whilst the account provides a valuable source for community information, the informal nature of some of their messages reaches out to an on-line generation and gives plenty of people a good chuckle.

Whilst there is some risk to dumbing down any criminal activity, you cannot fail to have a giggle sometimes – for instance the “pork scratching pincher” was the punchline to a message about a male being dealt with for theft of foodstuffs from a local Tesco store. Whilst not disclosing the full tale, it shows that some people get themselves into trouble with the law for the most bizarre and seemingly trivial of crimes. They went on to report it was “sad, but true” and then threw in another hashtag “#NotTheGreatTrainRobbery”. The early morning raids reported in this newspaper last week were apparently “#NotTheAvonLady”, although I’m sure those on receiving end of the early wake up call were never in any doubt about that!

The Lambrini and other alcohol related tweets serve as a warning to weekend revellers about the dangers of overdoing it, whilst keeping those of us in our 40s, sat at home with our cocoa, abreast of developments down on the Gaza Strip.

The likening of the cells in the Market Street headquarters to rooms in a rather bleak hotel make it sound anything but inviting – hopefully it may make someone think twice before offering to sample the hospitality. The running count on “room” occupancy rates at Hotel Market Street and of those issued with section 27 notices shows that the local force are as busy as ever on a weekend late shift. For those unaware, a section 27 is a warning notice issued to someone overdoing it on the shandy, ordering them to go home or be arrested. A “clip round the ear” was the name for such an order back in less restrictive days.

Whilst the introduction of light hearted comedy into the police messages is a very fine line that needs to be paced, the local force should be applauded for embracing the technology, reaching out to younger generations and engaging with the public through modern media.

That’s one of the most useful things, it’s interactive, and you can get responses, reassurance, and information.

You can have a joke or just join in with some general chit chat – a bit like the chatting to the bobby on the beat, but you don’t have to go out in the cold to do it!

Catch the cops at twitter.com/barrowpolice

First published at 16:01, Monday, 25 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk