Crime in Irchester, North Northamptonshire

Burglary
• In May, officers held a crime prevention surgery with the Neighbourhood Beat Bus in Market Street in the town centre. Approximately 300 people came along and crime prevention materials and information were given out, including burglary prevention items. Our officers have held several other beat bus events and community surgeries across the area.
• Officers have given out SmartWater kits in various locations in Wellingborough and the surrounding villages.

Drug dealing and drug misuse
• A section 23 misuse of drugs stop search resulted in officers finding a knife and the subject was arrested and charged
• A male was arrested for possession with intent to supply class A drugs and the investigation is going
• Officers conducted a warrant at an address in the Castle ward where there was suspected dealing of class A and B drugs
• Two warrants were conducted on the Hemmingwell estate linked to drug dealing
• A further warrant was completed on the Queensway in relation to drugs and the investigation is ongoing
• Officers located a cannabis factory in the Swanspool area. An arrest was made and the investigation is ongoing.
• Officers ran an operation aimed at preventing recreational drug use at licensed premises during the night-time economy. With the support of two drug search dogs and their handlers, the neighbourhood teams visited nine pubs and clubs in Wellingborough, Wollaston and Irchester on Friday, July 25. During the operation, officers conducted a total of 14 stop searches under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, which resulted in nine individual drugs seized – two Class A (cocaine) and seven Class B (cannabis). Most of the people found in possession of cannabis were issued with an out of court disposal to complete an online drugs link course and four hours of immediate justice (unpaid work), but voluntary interviews were offered to others, including those in possession of cocaine. In addition to this, three further individual drugs – two cannabis and one cocaine – were found within premises, while one person was dealt with for being in possession of a knife in a public place

Vehicle crime
• Officers in Wellingborough seized an electric bike and made an arrest for insurance offences and drunk-in-charge
• A converted E-bike was seized on Market Street in Wellingborough
• An E-scooter was seized from a suspect in Wellingborough town centre where the suspect had previously used the scooter to aid in them shoplifting and evading police
• Over the last six months, a number of individuals have been arrested for theft of or theft from a motor vehicle offences. Several of these investigations are still ongoing but we have secured charges on some of the individuals.

• There have been 141 burglaries within the area covered by the Wellingborough Neighbourhood Team, which has resulted in 12 detections, including criminal charges, summons and community resolution disposals.
• Both high visibility and plain clothes patrols have been conducted to provide reassurance and visibility, helping to deter and detect offences.
• Call backs and reassurance visits have been carried out for victims of burglary.
• We have been working alongside the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to secure funding for CCTV cameras in hot spot areas.

• Officers have carried out speed enforcement activity across the area covered by the Wellingborough Neighbourhood Team. As a result of this, multiple speeding tickets have been issued.
• We have issued a total of 56 traffic tickets for driving offences ranging from speeding, no insurance, careless driving, inconsiderate driving, driving whilst using a mobile phone, and driving without a valid MOT.
• Additionally, multiple vehicles have been seized for having no insurance.
• Multiple operations have also been completed tackling e-bikes and VOI scooters

• There have been 150 reported thefts from motor vehicles, 66 reported thefts of motor vehicles, and 63 reported vehicle interferences in the area covered by the Wellingborough Neighbourhood Team between October and March. All victims of crime have received a reassurance visit from neighbourhood officers.
• Officers have conducted both high visibility and plain clothes patrols across the area.
• The Wellingborough Neighbourhood Team have also supported the East Northants Neighbourhood Team with Operation Pyjama in response to motorbike thefts.
• Officers have engaged with the Independent Advisory group (IAG), holding detailed discussions regarding ongoing work to deter, prevent and detect vehicle related offences.
• Officers have held meetings with VOI, the local MP and North Northamptonshire Council regarding concerns around VOI scooters and their illegal use.
• Officers in Wellingborough have seized multiple privately owned e-scooters and Surron bikes.

Our priorities are set for a six month period and reviewed every three months to ensure we continue to deal with what matters most to local people, taking account of feedback shared in our local priorities survey and local crime data.
To have your say on what you would like your neighbourhood officers to focus on, and to get updates from them about crime and policing activity in your area, please visit Northamptonshire Talking https://www.northamptonshiretalking.co.uk/ or click on the link at the top of the page.