New Neighbourhood Policing Priorities set across East Herts

Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) across East Herts have set their new policing priorities for the coming months.

NPTs work alongside partners to focus on solving long and short-term neighbourhood issues, such as anti-social behaviour, theft, speeding and drug-related crime.

Using an analysis of data, they set local policing priorities every four months, to provide a specific focus on the issues which are currently causing the most concern to residents locally. Feedback from members of the public also plays a vital part.

Residents will see their dedicated team of PCs and PCSOs working alongside partners to address the agreed priorities below, through an increased police presence, engagement events and targeted enforcement.

Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth

• Reduce anti-social use of off-road vehicles in Southern Country Park, Bishop’s Stortford, mainly occurring between 10am and 6pm.
• To increase feelings of safety in Pishiobury Park, Sawbridgeworth, by providing increased visible presence in the open spaces, daily between 2pm and 6pm.

East Herts Rural

• Reduce shoplifting offences from retail stores in Buntingford Town Centre.
• Reduce anti-social use of off-road vehicles in Bramfield, Datchworth and Watton at Stone, mainly occurring at weekends.

Hertford

• Reduce anti-social behaviour and criminal damage at Bircherley Green car park, mainly occurring between 8am and 5pm.

Ware and Stanstead Abbotts

• Reduce anti-social behaviour in Priory Park, Ware, mainly occurring between 3pm and 9pm.
• Reduce anti-social behaviour in High Street Park/Meadow, Stanstead Abbotts, mainly occurring between 3pm and 9pm.

Whilst there will be a focus on the local priorities, officers will continue to respond to daily business as usual, as well as forcewide priorities and any emerging issues which require more immediate action.

The area is also policed by Intervention officers who respond to emergency calls, the Local Crime Unit which investigates the more serious crimes such as burglary, robbery and assault, and specialist units such as Operation Scorpion who work to tackle acquisitive crime. In addition, they can utilise officers from central teams which work countywide.

Neighbourhood Inspector Mark Collins said: “I’d like to thank everyone who gave us their views, your feedback is so important and helps ensure we’re focusing our efforts on what matters most to local people.

“We’ll be working to tackle these issues over the coming months, alongside our usual daily business. You can keep up with what the teams are doing via our social media channels and our new community messaging system Herts Connected.”