Hitchin Rural

The priorities for May to August are as follows:

• Acquisitive vehicle crime. Theft from vehicles and theft of vehicles throughout the rural area is a concern for local communities. We will work with the public and businesses to improve crime prevention awareness and increase patrols in these isolated locations to reduce offences and reassure communities.

• Fly-tipping and related crime along the Herts/Beds border. We will continue to focus on this issue over the coming months, ensuring that close collaboration with colleagues in Bedfordshire continues. We will also continue to undertake dedicated patrols and operations throughout the area.

Residents will see their dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Team of PCs and PCSOs working alongside partners to tackle these issues, through an increased police presence, engagement events and targeted enforcement.

The previous local priorities for the area were:

• Tackling drug related anti-social behaviour in Wymondley, particularly in the car park area on Tower Close.

• Fly-tipping in Hitchin Rural and in particular in the Offley and Lilley areas.

Residents previously asked us to focus on the following issues:

Tackling drug related anti-social behaviour in Wymondley, particularly in the car park area on Tower Close
*The Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted patrols in the area to ensure that any unlawful activity is identified and addressed.

Fly-tipping in Hitchin Rural and in particular in the Offley and Lilley areas
*The team carried out patrols of the areas and worked with landowners, farmers and businesses with a focus on reducing fly-tipping. This forms part of a wider, ongoing effort to reduce rural crime and see further crime prevention initiatives between police and local communities.