New neighbourhood priorities set for Watford

Addressing anti-social behaviour in Oxhey Park and tackling retail theft 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 in Watford working alongside partners to address the agreed priorities below, through an increased police presence, engagement events and targeted enforcement.

• Tackle retail theft in St Albans Road focusing on shoplifting at Tesco Express, Co-Op and Esso particularly.
• Address anti-social behaviour within Oxhey Park following reports of drug use and associated ASB within the park.
• Challenge criminals coming in and out of the town centre using the train network – responding robustly to people that come to Watford town centre to commit crime with a focus on the High Street station.  
• Prevent vehicle crime in and around the Kingswood estate and work to reduce the volume of theft from motor vehicle and vehicle interference offences in the area.

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.

Previously, members of the public had asked us to focus on the following priorities:

Enhance feelings of public safety within Cassiobury Park

• We conducted daily foot patrols as part of Operation Hotspot.
• Held a multi-agency drop-in session at the café during ASB Awareness Week.
• We hosted a pop-up stall in the park where we spoke with members of the public and provided crime prevention advice.
• Held a community event where we security marked a number of bikes and added them to the national database.
• Conducted a knife operation at the underground station using a new weapons detection system.

Reduce street-related crime within The Parade and High Street

• We used stop and search powers which led to the recovery of Class A and B drugs.
• Held a pop-up event and spoke to over 250 people who came along.
• Issued a number of Community Protection Warnings and Notices to persistent beggars in the underpass.
• Spoke with college students to promote feelings of safety within Watford town centre. We also held a bike and phone marking event at the college.
• Worked with partners at Watford Borough Council to raise awareness of pick pocketing in the High Street via digital screens.
• Conducted plain clothed patrols focusing on purse/bag ‘dipping’ offences.
• Continued our daily Op Hotspot foot patrols.

Reduce intimidating/anti-social behaviour in and around Meriden Way and York Way.

• We held numerous pop-up events outside the shops on Meriden Way
• Worked collaboratively with local councillors and conducted walk-arounds the estate.
• Worked in partnership with the local authority to address anti-social parking.
• Deployed a mobile police station to hold agile working events. This resulted in two intelligence reports created, three number plates safely secured, six Herts Connected sign-ups, 18 bikes security marked and crime prevention advice given on 19 occasions.

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