Safer Neighbourhood Teams set new priorities and welcome new sergeant

Tackling drug crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) is the key focus for the Stevenage Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs), who have just set their new policing priorities following feedback from the local community.

The priorities run from August to December and each of the three teams across the town will continue to work alongside local partners, to address these neighbourhood issues.

“Feedback from members of the public plays a big part in our decision making and information provided via the Constabulary’s community voice platform ‘echo’ is used to help shape the priorities, alongside an analysis of local data,” explained Neighbourhood Inspector Nicholas Redfearn.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback through echo or who completed the priority setting OWL survey.

“Over the coming months, local residents will see their dedicated team of PCs and PCSOs working to address their policing priorities, through increased police presence, engagement events and targeted enforcement.

“Though these are local priorities, suggested directly by the community, officers will still be out and about responding to any other issues and concerns as usual, supported by response teams and specialist units.”

New Priorities

North Stevenage:

• Nuisance driving on Martins Way, Gunnels Wood Road, Wedgewood Way, Wisden Road, Grace Way, Scarborough Avenue and Clovelly Way.
• ASB, begging and theft from shops in the Oval area.
• Begging and associated ASB, street drinking, drug dealing and substance misuse in Durham Road, York Road, Ripon Road and surrounding streets in St Nicholas.

Stevenage Central:

• ASB in the town centre
• Cuckooing involving vulnerable residents.

Stevenage South:

• Speeding and vehicle nuisance.
• Drug use and associated crime.

The South Safer Neighbourhood Team have also welcomed a new sergeant.

Sergeant John Hickmott is no stranger to the town having first joined the constabulary in 2003 as a Special Constable. He spent 15 years giving up his free time to be on duty in Stevenage and North Herts as a volunteer officer, whilst working full time as a company director.

Then in 2018 John made the decision to join full time and worked as both a response officer and a Safer Neighbourhood Officer in Stevenage, before passing his sergeants exams.

“I really like neighbourhood policing because it provides us with a lot of variety,” he said. “You get the opportunity to problem-solve in the longer term, react to real time incidents and be pro-active around crime prevention and awareness.

“Local officers get to really know their community and the crime types associated with it. Building relationships with local residents and being able to make a difference to their lives is very satisfying.”

You can keep up to date with the work of your local SNT on Facebook by following the ‘Stevenage Police’ page.

You can still give your views by using echo (opens in a new window).