New local priorities set for Hitchin Rural

Dear Resident

Over the past few months, Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) across North Herts have been working hard to tackle their local policing priorities - the issues that residents said were causing them the most concern.

NPTs work alongside partner agencies to focus on solving long and short-term neighbourhood issues, such as anti-social behaviour, theft, speeding and drug-related crime.

The NPT teams in North Herts set local policing priorities every four months, providing a specific focus on the issues that residents have raised through surveys, and an analysis of other data.

The dedicated teams of PCs and PCSOs will work alongside partners to tackle the issues, through an increased police presence, engagement events and targeted enforcement.

Hitchin Rural

During the last period the following issues were addressed:

•         Drug related ASB in Wymondley, particularly in the car park area on Tower Close. Multiple patrols have been undertaken at this location by your local team. This visibility has led to fewer reports of issues in the location. 

•         Fly-tipping in areas surrounding Offley and Lilley. Your local team have been working hard to address this issue. This is a problem which impacts Herts and Beds along the shared border, we have undertaken joint operations with Bedfordshire Police to provide a collaborated response. This will continue as a priority.

The following priorities have now been agreed for the next four months:

•         Acquisitive vehicle crime. Theft from vehicles and theft of vehicles throughout the rural area is a concern for local communities. We will work with the public and businesses to improve crime prevention awareness and increase patrols in these isolated locations to reduce offences and reassure communities. 

•         Fly-tipping and related crime along the Herts/Beds border. We will continue to focus on this issue over the coming months, ensuring that close collaboration with colleagues in Bedfordshire continues. We will also continue to undertake dedicated patrols and operations throughout the area. 

As well as the NPT, North Herts is also policed by response officers who respond to emergency calls, and detectives in CID who investigate crimes such as burglary, robbery and assault. In addition, we can utilise officers from central teams which work countywide and include our dedicated sexual offences team, child protection teams and domestic abuse team.