Section 60 Stop and Search powers authorised overnight in South Oxhey

Police in South Oxhey were given additional Stop and Search powers overnight, following two incidents that took place on Monday (20 February).

Police in South Oxhey were given additional Stop and Search powers overnight, following two incidents that took place on Monday (20 February).

On Monday evening, police received calls in relation to two separate altercations in the South Oxhey area. At both incidents, it was alleged that people had been armed with weapons, which were described as machetes. It is believed that all involved parties were known to each other, and they are being treated as linked.

Officers attended both incidents. No weapons were found, and no one sustained any injuries. At this stage, no arrests have been made. Police continue to investigate, and anyone with any information is asked to report it via 101, or via our website at herts.police.uk/report.

As a result of these reports, local officers have increased their patrols in the area – both overt and covert – and as part of this, they were given authorisation to stop and search members of the public suspected to be carrying knives from 5.05pm on Tuesday (21 February) to 10am today (Wednesday 22 February), under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

This legislation is different to the stop and search powers they already have, which can be used at any time but when used officers must have reasonable grounds.

The Section 60 applied to the area in the attached map – which includes Thomas Sawyer Way, Riverside Park, Riverside Road, Silk Mill Road, Hampermill Lane, Sandy Lane, Prestwick Road, Oxhey Lane, Little Oxhey Lane, Pinner Lane, Lower High Street, Dalton Way, Bushey train station and Carpenders Park station.

Three Rivers Chief Inspector Andrew Palfreyman said: “If you live in the South Oxhey area, you may have noticed an increased police presence in the area over the last couple of days whilst we act on this latest intelligence.

“I would like to make it clear that both of these incidents were contained, and initial enquiries have led us to believe that the involved parties are known to each other – as such, we do not believe there to be any wider threat or risk to the public at this time.

“Overnight, we increased our patrols in order to provide a visible police presence in the South Oxhey area, and to disrupt any possible criminality. I’m pleased to say that officers did not have cause to conduct any stop and searches and that all was in order overnight.

“I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear: there are serious consequences if you choose to carry a knife. Not only will you face a possible custodial sentence and criminal record, which could affect your job prospects in later life, but you could cause yourself or another person serious injury.”