Crime in St Andrew's & Docklands, Kingston upon Hull, City of

We continue to carry out regular patrols along Hessle Road and surrounding areas to identify and deal with those purchasing sex and to safeguard vulnerable individuals involved in on‑street sex working. Our patrols take place throughout the evening and into the early hours to ensure we are present at the times when activity is most likely to occur.

Officers have been speaking with local residents to understand not only concerns relating to on‑street sex working, but also wider community issues affecting the Hessle Road and Boulevard areas. This feedback helps us target our patrols and resources more effectively.

Patrol activity has increased under Operation Contay, and we continue to work closely with partner agencies in what remains a complex area of policing and safeguarding. We have now secured funding for additional patrols this year, allowing us to dedicate further resources to protecting vulnerable women and ensuring they receive appropriate support, referrals, and safeguarding interventions through our partnership network.

Although reports from the public have reduced, this remains an ongoing policing priority. We continue to support those involved in on‑street sex working and actively identify individuals who exploit or take advantage of them.

Our commitment is to protect vulnerable people, address community concerns, and work collaboratively with partners to deliver long‑term solutions for the area.

Our aim is to reduce anti‑social behaviour (ASB) by addressing the underlying issues faced by those involved. Through the city’s established Intervention Hub, individuals are offered tailored support to help them overcome the challenges contributing to their behaviour. This approach is designed not only to reduce re‑offending but also to provide much‑needed respite for the communities affected by persistent ASB.

The framework we use offers a balance between support and enforcement, ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive help where possible, while those who continue to offend face appropriate action. This work is delivered under the Anti‑Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

We continue to address the challenges associated with rough sleeping and remain active members of the Rough Sleeper Action Group, which meets every two weeks. At each meeting, joint actions are agreed to reduce ASB, address the causes of rough sleeping, and respond to calls for service relating to vulnerable individuals in the city centre.
Alongside this, we chair regular meetings with local businesses to discuss the issues affecting them and to ensure the city centre remains a welcoming and attractive place for both existing and new businesses.

Our officers patrol the city centre daily, engaging with those sleeping rough, begging, or involved in ASB. We focus on directing individuals to appropriate support services, and where diversion is not successful, we take positive action. Officers also routinely check on people’s welfare, ensuring they are safe and not in immediate need of medical help.

We work closely with a wide range of partner agencies, including Hull City Council, Renew, Humberside Fire and Rescue, Emmaus, and others. Together, we:

Help identify vulnerable individuals or those at risk
Provide people sleeping rough with information about specialist services and accommodation
Develop long‑term solutions for entrenched homelessness
Reduce crime and ASB sometimes associated with rough sleeping

This is a long‑term issue that often becomes more pronounced during the winter months. As demand increases, our partnership work continues to ensure the city centre remains safe, supportive, and responsive to the needs of both the community and vulnerable individuals.

Humber Talking engagement has now been completed in the area, allowing us to build a clearer picture of the concerns raised by residents. We continue to develop intelligence and information, and this has already led to several warrants being executed and offenders dealt with.

The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is now fully enforceable, and officers are proactively targeting street drinking within the restricted area. Repeat offenders are being monitored, and further Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) are being progressed for those who continue to breach conditions or engage in persistent anti‑social behaviour.

An adult tiered list identifying the main individuals responsible for continued issues in the area has been completed. Ongoing work is now focused on identifying long‑term solutions and the underlying causes of this behaviour.
This work is carried out in close partnership with a range of key agencies, ensuring a coordinated approach that balances enforcement with appropriate support.

We remain committed to improving safety and quality of life for residents and businesses in the area.