GLOUCESTERSHIRE Police has been praised for last week’s 24-hour Twitterthon, which gave the public a more detailed look into the day-to-day activities at the constabulary.

From 7am on Friday, January 13 until 7am on Saturday, January 14 almost every aspect of policing at the Quedgeley-based constabulary was documented on the @Glos_Police as part of the scheme.

Over the 24 hours, 506 incidents were recorded, while control room operators answered 190 emergency calls as well as 675 on the constabulary’s 101 service.

What’s more, officers responded to 67 grade 1 incidents, which include threat of violence, serious damage to property, serious injury to a person and danger to life.

Incidents of note over the course of the day included two non-suspicious sudden deaths, as well as officers working with ambulance crews after reports of a woman having taken an overdose in Stroud.

Twitter user Nick Evans wrote: “Just caught up with #glospol24 a great insight into the tough, varied & vital jobs done all day, every day by @Glos_Police.”

While Laura Jordan wrote: “Thank you @Glos_Police for a fascinating 24 hours – really highlights the great job you all do to keep us safe each and every day #GlosPol24.”

DCC Rod Hansen, speaking to the Standard prior to the Twitterthon, said: “It’s the first time we’ve held something like this. We want to demonstrate a typical day in policing. People tend to form their views from TV, films and documentaries – which is understandable.

“But we want to show more, to open up doors to what really goes on – from call handling to forensics.”

“There’s never a boring day in policing,” he said. “The public will get to see everything from the serious through to the minor.”

Over the last few years, several constabularies across the country have held similar Twitterthons, while many interact daily with the public on social media, including Gloucestershire Police.

Interesting statistics over the course of the day were also included.

For example, it was revealed referrals to the Gloucestershire Police child sexual exploitation unit have more than trebled in the last three years.

In 2013, referrals stood at 147, with the figure soaring to 530 last year.

Also, 61 people were brought into custody in Gloucestershire between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day last year, while January was revealed as the busiest month in custody in 2016, with 668 detainees coming into cells.

For the full interview with DCC Hansen, click here.