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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Anti Social Behaviour, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. It has been non-stop this week for the Stevenage Town Centre Team. As a team, we have taken part in operations as well as training with new techniques to help us tackle crime in the area.
We have seen offenders arrested and charged, vehicles seized, community resolutions issued and drivers reported for various offences as we make Stevenage safer.
Police have been taking part in training for additional kit that will be used on foot patrols in Stevenage Town Centre and 9 Yards. This comes in the form of Selecta Spray and Selecta Micro Dots.
Selecta Spray – A spray which has its own DNA profile coded for each canister that officers carry. These were ordered on the back of many Failure to Stops regarding E-bikes and E-scooters in Stevenage Town Centre. When the offender is sprayed, invisible, harmless DNA is left on their skin and clothes which cannot be washed of. Even if the offender successfully runs away from officers, they can be tracked at a later date. UV light shows the spray on the offender’s skin and clothes, and a swab shows the unique DNA code from the exact canister used at the time of deployment. This shall allow for more positive convictions, bringing more offenders to justice. Needless to say, if you run, the chances of finding you have gone up.
Selecta Microdots – A tiny sticky black dot which can be such onto any surface. Stores will be using these dots on high value items such as chocolate, alcohol and other expensive goods. These dots have microscopic writing on them with a specific batch code. If an offender steals items and is located with them, using a portable microscope, we can see what store the goods had come from and prove the theft in a much shorter time. This will speed up arrest and conviction rate which should lead to more deterrent when stealing and less overall crime in the long run.
Selecta is being used by several other forces in the county, which has helped with catching and deterring offenders.
It has been a very busy week for Police Officers conducting Operation Scootherts Patrols, especially for myself and my father PC 0706 Pickering. The father-son led operation has seen several seizures, all of which I shall show below;
On foot patrols by Asda, I had spotted two youths on e-scooters riding towards London Road. Both riders failed to stop and tried to escape, however after catching one after a short sprint, the other rider was persuaded by their friend to come back. Both riders were reported for the following offences;
- Failure to Stop for Police
- Driving without a Licence
- Driving without Insurance
Shortly after this, I found a third e-scooter being driven into Poundland. That was also seized and the driver was reported for the following;
- Driving without a Licence
- Driving without Insurance
Patrols were also conducted by PC Pickering senior on Ditchmore Lane. He came across a male operating an e-scooter. The male was signalled to stop, however the driver started to make off. The male was quickly cornered and upon trying to turn around to escape, was successfully stopped and subsequently arrested. Upon arrest, it was believed the suspect was intoxicated and after being breathalysed back at Stevenage Custody he was charged with:
- Drink Drive (Yes it is the same operating an E-scooter as it is a car)
- Driving without Insurance
- Driving without a Licence
- Failure to Stop for Police
- Driving without an MoT
- Driving without a CBT
- Driving without a Helmet
Earlier in the day, an illegal e-bike was also seized. All e-scooters and e-bikes have been taken to a recovery company where they are subsequently crushed. If you use it illegally, you’ll lose it!
A town centre officer was on foot patrol on Danestrete when two motor vehicles were spotted driving down a prohibited zone. The Constable stopped the vehicles and spoke to both drivers, with their pair of them stating that they did not see the sign.
As they had driven into a pedestrianised walkway, which could had resulted in injury and that they were not paying attention, they were reported for Driving without Due Care and Attention. Both drivers will be going to court for these offences.
Town Centre officers took part in an all-new operation which has come to Hertfordshire Constabulary.
Operation Viewpoint uses vans equipped with live facial recognition technology to detect wanted suspects and an operation was conducted in the Town Centre on Friday 1 May. No wanted persons came to our attention on the day, however this technology will help police locate wanted/dangerous offenders much faster than traditional methods. This means that suspects should be wanted for shorter periods of time, allowing us to bring them in much quicker and allowing victims to get the justice that they deserve.
A man wanted on recall to prison has been arrested in Stevenage and charged with additional offences, including Making Threats With a Weapon, Robbery and Theft.
Ongoing efforts had been made to trace the man, including in the evening on Monday 4 May, when Police were called following a sighting at The Oval, Stevenage.
Anthony Desmit, aged 31 of No Fixed Abode was arrested in Stevenage on Tuesday 5 May and on Wednesday 6 May, was charged with the following offences;
- Threatening a Person with a Weapon in a Private Place.
- Possession of a Knife/Bladed Article.
- Robbery at a store in Stevenage and Possession of a Knife/Pointed and Bladed Article.
- Four counts of theft from a shop (Three in Stevenage and one in Hitchin).
He appeared in Hatfield Magistrates Court on Thursday 7 May where he was remanded.
Desmit is due to appear in Stevenage Magistrates’ Court in relation to the shoplifting on Wednesday 3 June and then to appear at St Albans Crown Court in relation to the other charges on Thursday 4 June.
Reports had come in to police of man in the town centre causing a disturbance.
Officers attended and the man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. He was taken to Stevenage Police Station where he was issued with a Community Resolution for his actions.
 Tackling antisocial behaviour can be a complex issue, and one which requires input and action from more than just the police. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 aims to put victims first, giving power to local people and enabling professionals to find the best solutions for their local area. The act provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to antisocial behaviour. These include: - civil injunctions.
- criminal behaviour orders.
- public spaces protection orders.
- community protection notices.
- dispersal powers.
- closure powers.
The act also includes measures such as the Community Remedy and antisocial behaviour case reviews which empower victims and communities to have a say in the outcome of their reports and hold agencies to account. If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.herts.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Get Involved Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
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