Latest news with #neighbourhoodpolicing
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire Police recruit 30 extra community officers
A police force has recruited an extra 30 community officers after it received more funding from the Police made the announcement during a launch in Peterborough, where the first 10 community officers will be team, which will be based in the centre and eastern sector of the city, will see two extra sergeants and eight additional Constable Nick Dean said: "This begins the start of neighbourhood policing enhancement across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough." The move is part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee launched by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on a visit to the county in Labour government is aiming to put named local officers into each neighbourhood and boost police ranks by 13,000 by Dean said he hoped the extra officers would build on the community work already being done by other local teams."What I hope to achieve is extra visibility, extra engagement, really dealing with the crimes and the incidents that matter to our communities," said the chief constable."Our neighbourhood teams do a fantastic job and have done a fantastic job, but this really does enhance that offer to our communities." Sgt Chris Arnold is part of the new city centre Neighbourhood Uplift team, who with another sergeant will be leading eight constables and a police community support officer."What I'm really looking forward to is increasing [officer] visibility in the city," he said. "It's going to be hugely impactful for the city to see an extra host of police officers to try and keep our streets safe."The force said the officers would provide increased coverage and visibility as police continue to work with partners and local communities to tackle key issues such as anti-social behaviour, retail crime, drug dealing and knife crime. Danielle Campbell, 52, lives in Paston, Peterborough, and said more officers were needed. Her friend had a handbag snatched as they were unloading her car outside her house."I don't feel safe going out at night, and I'm from London, and I felt safe there," she said. She said it was not the police's fault, as it was stretched, but wondered how an extra 30 officers could impact the county. "Unfortunately it's the little crimes that are getting left," she said. "If there were more police I would feel safer, it's just a deterrent." Mary Skyers, 75, who lives in Bretton said she would welcome more officers walking the streets rather than in cars "flying past", as they did in the past. "It's a reassurance for a lot of people, especially elderly people," she said."There's a lot of crime, knives and everything that goes on. You do need them." Daniel Slack, 26, from Peterborough, said he has had "good and bad experiences with the police" in the wants them to do more about the drug use and prostitution where he lives, and would welcome a better police presence. "The area I'm in, I've seen people robbed. I've been robbed at cash machines, seen people get attacked, especially due to drug use."And if there was more police hopefully that would prevent that happening." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Hundreds of town centres to see more police patrols in crime ‘blitz'
Hundreds of towns will see an increased police presence as part of the Government's new crime 'blitz' to crack down on shoplifting and anti-social behaviour by 'thugs and thieves'. More than 500 towns across England and Wales have signed up to the Home Office's safer streets summer initiative, which will run to September 30, with more visible policing and stronger enforcement to 'restore confidence in policing'. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said residents and businesses have a 'right to feel safe in their towns' but the last government left a 'surge' in crime. In a statement, she said: 'It's time to turn this round, that's why I have called on police forces and councils alike to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished.' She said part of the neighbourhood policing guarantee includes investment of £200 million this year to begin the recruitment of thousands of new neighbourhood policing officers. Speaking to members of policing and business sectors at Derby County Football Club's Pride Park Stadium on Thursday, Ms Cooper said every area will have 'named contactable officers for residents and businesses to be able to turn to'. Ms Cooper said: 'It's one of the most important things to restore confidence in policing is to have those neighbourhood police back on the beat dealing with those very crimes that cause so much problem. 'And if we don't see the police on the streets, then confidence is lost. And I think that is what's happened for far too long. 'If shoppers don't feel safe, they will stay home. People will just stay out of our town centres, and that heart of community will be lost. 'I think these kinds of crimes have been dismissed for too long because crime erodes the social fabric that binds us together and keeps communities strong. 'We've made town centres the very heart of the safer streets mission for this summer, taking back town centres from thugs and thieves – at the heart of that is rebuilding neighbourhood policing.' Half a million shoplifting offences in England and Wales were recorded by police last year, up 20% from 2023. In a statement, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'We are on the side of local businesses, and our plan for change is helping create the right conditions for our great British high streets to thrive. 'The safer streets summer initiative will play a vital role in achieving this by keeping footfall high, communities and those that work in them safe, and the economy growing.' Anthony Hemmerdinger, managing director of Boots, said: 'Retail theft alongside intimidation and abuse of our team members is unacceptable, so we welcome this additional support from Government and the police to strengthen shop worker protection.' Police and crime commissioners across England and Wales have developed local action plans with police, including in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Humberside, Devon and Cornwall.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- The Independent
Hundreds of town centres to see more police patrols this summer
The Government has launched a new crime initiative, dubbed a 'blitz', to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour by increasing Police presence. Over 500 towns across England and Wales have signed up for the Home Office's 'safer streets summer initiative', which will run until 30 September. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the aim is to restore public confidence in policing and ensure residents and businesses feel safe, citing a previous 'surge' in crime. The plan includes a £200 million investment this year to recruit thousands of new neighbourhood policing officers, ensuring every area has named contactable officers. The initiative responds to a significant rise in shoplifting, with Police recording half a million offences in England and Wales last year, a 20% increase from 2023.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- BBC News
Gloucester cannabis factory found after police raid property
Police discovered a cannabis farm, containing more than 170 plants, after raiding a city property. The illegal drug was being grown across seven rooms at an address on Painswick Road in Gloucester. Gloucestershire Police has yet to confirm if any arrests have been Monday's raid, equipment used for cultivating cannabis plants was dismantled and destroyed by Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "The seizure of a significant number of cannabis plants highlight the importance of community vigilance and reporting suspicious activity."
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Cumbrian officer wins award for community policing work
A Cumbrian police officer has been recognised for his commitment to community policing. A/Sgt Phil Hall, based in Eden, received the Neighbourhood Policing Award at the Cumbria Police Federation 2025 Recognition Awards for his work tackling criminality, and supporting vulnerable people. Over the past year, A/Sgt Hall worked with legal services on more than 30 breaches of anti-social behaviour injunctions involving four of Eden's most prolific offenders. His efforts in preparing court cases led to a custodial sentence, the first of its kind issued in Cumbria. He also worked with the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership to develop a community plan for managing speeding complaints and supported the integration of resettled communities in Eden by helping to produce guides on English law, key contacts, and support services. A/Sgt Hall said: "I'm really passionate about community policing. "It's not a glamorous job, but you are doing the stuff that matters to the public. "The disputes, the ongoing issues, the drug dealing. "The stuff that actually hurts the heart of the community. "That's what I enjoy getting to grips with – solving problems for people, working with partners and getting to meet the community." His focus on supporting victims was evident during a visit following a burglary in Stainton. When he discovered a blind resident felt unsafe and uncertain about identifying police officers, he worked with the force to introduce braille on warrant cards, an idea now set to be rolled out more widely. He also wrote a Visual Impairment Protocol which has been shared with chief officers. Recently, A/Sgt Hall used civil orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act to secure the closure of two nuisance premises, the first such orders issued in the Westmorland and Furness area. Ed Russell, chair of Cumbria Police Federation, said: "Phil works brilliantly with our partners and communities to solve the problems that really matter to them. "His determination to bring the anti-social behaviour injunction breaches to court gave victims and communities confidence in our robust policing approach, and he's always going that step further to make improvements to working practices. "He's a worthy winner of this award." A/Sgt Hall described the award as a surprise. He said: "It just came out of the blue." The Cumbria Police Federation Recognition Awards, in association with Axon, will take place on Wednesday, June 25. Additional sponsors include The Cumbria Police Group Insurance Scheme, Slater & Gordon, Uniform Mortgages, and others.
