Crime in Knutton, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Officers allocated to liaise with businesses throughout the town to address repeat shoplifters and issues raised by business owners along with dedicated daily hotspot patrols. Local officers and PCSO's have been tasked with daily high visibility patrols and proactive use of stop search in order to tackle drug possession and dealing. A variety of tools such as Community Protection Warnings/Notices, Community Behaviour Orders and arrests are used to tackle offending robustly and steer offenders into support services to address drug/alcohol abuse. Local officers are also working closely with partners such as BID, Rough Sleepers and Community Safety Partnership teams to tackle the root cause of the issues. Work remains ongoing.

We have allocated an officer to be a central point of contact to liaise with local businesses, Business Improvement District and Community Safety Partnerships, and address issues raised and coordinate a town centre response. Dedicated high visibility patrols have increased and we are using plain clothed officers, stop search and CCTV to identify offenders and use of anti-social behaviour legislation to tackle repeat offenders. Positive action to be taken when offences of begging have been identified, however support and diversion tactics are to be implemented in conjunction.

Operation safer nights has been created to provide a visible policing presence in the town centre for Friday and Saturday nights. Numerous officers on foot and in vehicles are present through the town to provide reassurance and intervention if needed. Anti-social behaviour (ASB) legislation is being used to provide dispersal powers as well as the use of CCTV to monitor and ensure the safety of those using the town centre. Offenders arrested for violence are dealt with robustly with bail conditions, banning notices and Community Protection Warnings/Notices are used to prevent further incidents of disorder.