New Neighbourhood Policing Priorities set across Watford

Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) across Watford 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.

The new priorities will see officers focusing on:

• Drug dealing and youth-related anti-social behaviour in Rickmansworth Road (from Cassiobury Park to the Town Hall roundabout).
  
  
• Street drinking in and around St Mary’s Church Yard, Church car park and St Mary’s Road.
  
  
• Street related anti-social behaviour in St Albans Road (from Station Road to Balmoral Road).
  
  

While 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.

Inspector Dan Jones from the Watford Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to tell us what you’d like to see us working on locally.

“It’s really important we hear your views as our job is to ensure we keep everyone safe and tackle any issues that are having a negative or unpleasant impact across the town. We will also continue to respond to 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 (opens in a new window).”