New Neighbourhood Policing Priorities set across Watford

Tackling street-related crime and intimidation and improving feelings of safety are among the new local priorities for Watford’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) following feedback from the public.

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:

• Reducing street-related crime within The Parade and High Street.
  
  
• Reducing intimidating/anti-social behaviour in and around Meriden Way and York Way.
  
  
• Enhancing feelings of public safety within Cassiobury Park.

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.

Following feedback from the last set of priorities, your local officers have been working hard to address the issues you raised with us.

 

You said: Tackle drug dealing and youth-related anti-social behaviour in Rickmansworth Road (from Cassiobury Park to the Town Hall)

We did: Conducted daily high-visibility foot patrols in the area as part of our Op Hotspot initiative. Special Constabulary officers also supported with our enhanced patrols.

Held a bike register event in the park and security marked over 50 bicycles.

Worked with the Watford Community Safer Partnership to enable police vehicle access to the park – which allowed us to patrol the park easier with vehicles.

Our Rural Operational Support Team attended the park with a drone to assist with our proactive patrols.

Conducted cycle patrols along the canal tow path.

Held a police ‘pop-up’ stall to provide crime prevention advice at the bandstand area in Rickmansworth Road.

Officers from our local Scorpion team and Operational Support Group conducted plain clothed patrols which led to the arrest of a suspect with significant class A drugs on him. They also carried out multiple stop and searches.

Local officers also held a pop-up community event in Cassiobury Park.

  

You said: Address street drinking in and around St Mary’s Church Yard, Church car park and St Mary’s Road

We did: Conducted intensive daily high-visibility patrols as part of the Op Hotspot initiative.

Multiple seizures of alcohol from street drinkers were made.

Officers conducted metal detection searches of the area during Op Sceptre week which resulted in a blade being recovered from the bushes.

Held a pop-up police stall within the church yard.

Issued multiple Community Protection Notices and Warnings to individuals persistently causing anti-social behaviour in the church yard.

Seized quantities of cannabis as a result of stop and searches in the area.

 

You said: Tackle street related anti-social behaviour in St Albans Road (from Station Road to Balmoral Road)

We did: Issued a persistent beggar with a Community Protection Notice.

Checked over 350 vehicles for insecurities and provided crime prevention advice to those whose vehicles were found unlocked.

Conducted a business survey along the road and signed several up to the new community messaging platform Herts Connected.

Issued a Section 59 warning to a vehicle that was being used anti-socially.

Conducted high-visibility foot patrols along the location at varying times.

While there will be a focus on the new 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.

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 over the next few months.

“I hope residents have seen a positive difference in the areas we focused on during our last priority setting.

“Although our officers will be looking into the new concerns you’ve raised with us, we’ll of course be flexible to any emerging situations that requires our attention.

“I’d like to encourage residents and businesses in Watford to please tell us if there’s anything that’s affecting you locally which is having a negative or unpleasant impact in your area.” 

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

You can still let us know what you think we should be prioritising in your area. Your feedback will help towards shaping our local policing priorities, initiatives and campaigns.  Visit Echo and tell us your thoughts. The survey is being run through the Herts Connected platform, but you do not need to be a member to take part. However, we would encourage people to sign up if they are happy to do so, so that we can contact you for information about an issue if needed.

Join our new community messaging platform Herts Connected where you will receive free local police messages and Neighbourhood Watch, Action Fraud and the Police and Crime Commissioner if that’s what you choose when you sign up.