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The St Albans, Harpenden and London Colney neighbourhood policing teams (NPTs) have set the latest neighbourhood priorities for the next four months – three are new and some remain as there is still more work to be done.
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, 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 in St Albans, Harpenden and London Colney working alongside partners to address the agreed priorities below, through an increased police presence, engagement events and targeted enforcement.
St Albans Central, North and West
*New* You said: Anti-social behaviour at the Griffiths Way retail park between 5pm and 9pm.
We are doing: This is a new neighbourhood priority following reports of anti-social behaviour at the retail park. We will be working to address these issues with businesses including McDonald’s, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and The Range.
You said: Drug dealing and drug use along the Alban Way between Morrisons and Orient Close between 12 noon and 4pm.
We are doing: We have been conducting regular high visibility patrols along this stretch of the Alban Way. Operation Scorpion and the Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted a drugs warrant at an address in Lycaste Close. No-one was arrested and no drugs were found at this address, however information led us to Dellfields where a 45-year-old man was arrested for being concerned in the supply of a Class A drugs. The man has been charged and remanded for drugs offences. Drugs, cash and phones were recovered.
A significant reduction in the number of reports following our intervention means that the previous neighbourhood priorities of anti-social use of vehicles and underage drinking at Cottonmill Community Centre and anti-social motorbike use in Batchwood and New Greens estate are now business as usual. We increased patrols and issued warnings to those driving anti-socially and contacted parents about underage drinking. We have also seized a number of e-bikes, issued section 59 warnings and welcome the new CCTV cameras installed at High Oaks shops by the council to help reduce anti-social behaviour and identify those causing problems.
London Colney, St Stephens and St Albans East
*New* You said: Anti-social behaviour outside Oaklands College.
We will be doing: This is a new priority we have added due to the rise in anti-social behaviour, including littering, smoking, and committing public order offences outside the college during break times and after lessons, causing concern for passers-by and nearby residents. We will be working closely with the college to try and resolve these issues.
You said: Vehicle related anti-social behaviour at Starbucks and the A414 North Orbital Road.
We are doing: There has been a reduction in the number of offences due to the colder weather as well as intervention from the neighbourhood team, who have been working with Starbucks to address the ongoing issues. Measures due to be put in place include a permanent overnight closure, a barrier/gate at night shutting over 30 car park spaces and a camera to measure vehicle noise. We will continue to regularly monitor this priority.
You said: Vehicle related nuisance including parking, HGV nuisance and speeding.
We are doing: There is more work to do on these issues. We continue to work with the council’s parking attendants who enforce inconsiderate parking. Several drivers have received traffic offence reports this year – which means they could be fined, sent on a driver’s improvement course or summonsed directly to court for excessive speed. Several targeted operations have already taken place to speak to drivers and we have liaised with company bosses over HGVs using Colney Heath roads as a cut through.
Harpenden and rural
You said: Tackle burglaries.
*New* We are doing: This is also a force priority and locally we are increasing our high visibility and covert police patrols in identified areas including central Harpenden. We have also given out crime prevention advice to residents to help deter burglars including using timed light switches and investing in CCTV and doorbell cameras.
You said: Speeding in Harpenden and Sandridge
We are doing: We have been carrying out speed enforcement in the roads you have identified and given advice to drivers slightly exceeding the limit, others have been dealt with by fines, points and those with excessive speed will be summonsed directly to court. We are focusing extra attention in the following roads - Wheathamstead Road, Piggottshill Lane, Marford Road, Station Road, Lower Luton Road, Brewhouse Hill, The Hill, Redbourn Road, The Common in Kinsbourne Green and St Albans Road in Sandridge.
You said: Anti-social behaviour in Harpenden, Wheathampstead and Redbourn.
We are doing: We are working with Harpenden Town Council and CCTV in relation to an increase in off-road bikes acting anti-socially in Harpenden. Work continues in Redbourn to deal with anti-social behaviour and we are in the process of taking a juvenile to court following ASB which included damage to lights and bus shelters in Wheathampstead.
The previous priority of thefts from motor vehicle is no longer a neighbourhood priority following our proactive work to significantly reduce offences. However, we will continue to deal with thefts of, and from, motor vehicles in Harpenden and the villages.
Whilst there is a focus on the local priorities, we will continue to respond to daily business as usual, as well as forcewide priorities and any emerging issues which require more immediate action.