Extra patrols continue to make a difference in Derbyshire communities

Officers have made communities safer with more than 9,000 hours of extra patrols across Derbyshire in the last year.

Officers on hotspot patrols have prevented drug deals, found vulnerable missing people, and addressed nuisance behaviour targeting local businesses, conducting 111 arrests and speaking to more than 30,000 people.

This addresses the concerns of our local communities and means more officers out on the streets.

In the past twelve months, officers on hotspot duties have done the following:

• Conducted 111 arrests.
• Spent 9,872 hours of time on patrols.
• Taken 270 crime reports.
• Spoken with more than 30,000 people.
• Gave out 159 dispersal orders, telling people who were causing problems in the area to leave.
• Logged 315 pieces of intelligence, for example details from the public about crimes happening in their area.

Earlier this summer, we joined PC Ben Perry and PC Scott Bennett for a hotspot shift, covering locations around the county including Heanor, Shirebrook and Chesterfield.

PC Perry said: “We’ll always make sure to pop in and speak to local business owners, such as shop security who have historically had issues with disruptive behaviour in their stores but have seen this reduce after an increased police presence in the area.

“The feedback we get is positive, and no two shifts are the same. Sometimes, it can be a busy shift where you’re dispersing people, giving advice and conducting arrests, and sometimes it’s just being visible and talking to local people to get an understanding of what’s affecting them.”

The uniformed patrols are also complemented by officers patrolling in plain clothes, meaning they may be able to tackle groups who may not cause any issues when in sight of a uniformed officer.

Hotspot Policing Manager Becky Clough said: “The approach from our officers to hotspot policing has been really impressive, officers are keen to get out and be proactive about the issues we know are important to our communities.

“We’re also seeing that these targeted patrols are having a real effect, with an average reduction of 25% in anti-social behaviour in our hotspot areas from last year.

“Since we have launched, the largest reduction in ASB hotspots has been a staggering 45%. Not only are we reducing ASB in the hotspots, but we have seen a reduction on all crime types of 12%, compared to 2% forcewide.  Where necessary, officers are also taking action as well as being a visible

To find out more about our hotspot patrols, visit our website: Tackling anti-social behaviour in Derbyshire | Derbyshire Constabulary.