Inspector Chris Pearson has provided his monthly update on policing activities across Gedling borough…
New recruits
I’d like to welcome PC Tim Sharpe and PC Kyle Worgan to the Neighbourhood Policing team based at Arnold. It’s always great to
welcome officers to our local policing teams and our staffing numbers are now making a real difference in helping to reduce Crime and anti-social behaviour across Gedling borough.
Priority Updates
We have continued our efforts around drug supply in the last month with the Op Reacher and Neighbourhood teams working together to target offenders across Gedling borough.
150 x Cannabis plants were recovered from an address on the A60 Mansfield Road at Redhill resulting in two males aged 39 and 24 being charged with the production of cannabis. Both have been remanded in Custody. Alongside that the Reacher team were involved in the arrest of a male in the Mapperley area on 19th March. Class A and B drugs were recovered along with two bladed articles. A male was arrested and remains under investigation by the team. Last week the Reacher team recovered a Cannabis grow from Southdale Road, Carlton following feedback from the local community and a warrant was executed on Abbey Road, Newstead Village earlier this week following concerns around drug supply. A male was interviewed in relation to the offences and the investigation is ongoing.
Over the last 12 months we have carried out a large amount of work to address community concern around Drug Supply which featured highly in the local #WhatMatters Survey. We have now carried out 43 warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act resulting in the recovery of Class A and B Drugs, Cash, Weapons and other drugs paraphernalia. We know that there is more to be done in this area as drug use and supply is often linked to other crime such as robbery, burglary and anti-social behaviour. The Operation Reacher team have made over 100 individual drug seizures in the last 12 months and have now seized £259k in suspected criminal money. Alongside that, 182 individuals have been arrested or interviewed by the team which I hope will go some way in reassuring our communities that we will listen to their concerns and take appropriate action where required.
Burglary has continued to be a priority for local officers with much of our focus on a series of Shed/Garage breaks around the Carlton and Porchester areas. Officers from the Carlton Neighbourhood team have been reviewing CCTV footage of offences whilst a
night of action was carried out by Carlton officers working together with our Special Constables and the Operation Reacher team. During the operation 23 people were stopped or searched in the Carlton area and one male was arrested following the stop/check of a vehicle. Patrols of the area are continuing overnight and we continue to investigate a number of reported offences
Despite this recorded Burglary has fallen by nearly 40% in the last 12 months. I know that the COVID19 lockdowns have had a significant impact on reported crime but the County Burglary team have continued to make arrests and secure charges around prolific offenders operating in Gedling. This has resulted in a reduction in Car Key burglary offences but we continue to treat this as one of our priorities given the impact on victims.
Over the last 12 months we have received complaints around speeding in Gedling and more recently the anti-social use of motorcycles and cars. In the last month two moped riders were stopped by officers at Carlton and issued warnings under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act. This means that repeated anti-social use of the motorcycles will result in their seizure and likely destruction. Our Special Constables have also seized a number of vehicles in the last month with many uninsured, untaxed, notified off-road or in a dangerous condition. Alongside this speed checks have taken place in Ravenshead and Burton Joyce villages. It is hoped that our Community Road Safety (CRS) scheme will soon re-start with volunteers assisting with speed enforcement activity across Gedling Borough.
Updated Priorities
The Gedling policing priorities have been refreshed for the next 3 months and as of this month will be Residential Burglary, Anti-social behaviour and Drug Supply.
As ever please complete our online surveys which help shape our policing activity across Gedling and assist in identifying key priorities. For the next quarter we have adopted anti-social behaviour as one of the priorities for Gedling. This coincides with the easing of the lockdown restrictions and better weather which has already resulted in increased ASB reports in some of our parks and open spaces. We are working closely with the council to carry out patrols in hotspot areas and are supported by the Neighbourhood Wardens and CCTV operators.
Over the last few weeks we have received reports of damage being caused to play equipment in our parks and smashed glass has been left behind. This is clearly unacceptable and has a wider impact on our communities. We will be increasing patrols in our parks to deal with this issue and will use dispersal powers where proportionate and necessary to remove those behaving in an anti-social manner from the area. A new CCTV camera has recently been installed on the park on Conway Road in Carlton and we are working closely with Gedling Borough Council to offer engagement and diversion opportunities for young people across Gedling.
Dog Theft
Moving on I wanted to touch on dog theft as I know that this has resulted in increased concern both locally and nationally. I just want to thank those who have contacted us with their concerns over the last month and I’m pleased that we have been able to follow up a number of suspicious incidents reported to us and have given advice to those involved. Incidents have often involved those who are involved in ‘door to door’ selling of products or services and we have given advice to those as to reduce the fear of this type of offence. As ever we have published some useful advice around Dog theft and keeping pets safe which can be found on our website https://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/advice/dogs/theft
Knife Crime
Two excellent arrests were made by Op Reacher and our Response colleagues back on March 21 following an incident in Carlton. Both males have since been charged with knife possession after weapons were recovered. They will be appearing at Nottingham
Magistrates Court. We have always been very clear that Knife crime and violence will not be tolerated. We are continuing our work to identify those believed to be involved and will always take positive action. Later this month we will all take part in another
national week of action known as ‘Operation Sceptre’ which will see an increased focus on knife crime. We are hoping to deliver educational inputs around weapon possession some of our local schools and this will link in to our patrols of parks and open spaces.
Catalytic Converter Thefts
The theft of Catalytic converters has increased nationally and in Gedling we have received a number of reports that vehicles have been targeted for their Cat Converters. Our Special Constables have carried out patrols in Gedling and Arnold where offences have increased. We have launched ‘Operation Yachtsman’ with CID officers working to identify those responsible.
Response officers have carried out two recent evenings of action and ensured increased patrols in affected areas. Please be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us on 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.
COVID19
We have been planning for the reopening of licensed premises next week from Monday, April 12. A number of additional officers will be on patrol across Gedling to engage with licensed premises. We will be working together with police and council licensin colleagues to ensure a safe re-opening for all involved. As ever i’d ask that we all continue to work to the published COVID19 regulations in order to reduce the spread the virus. Sadly last week officers attended to a house party on Dale Road, Carlton
where 13 x fixed penalty notices were issued to those in attendance. Whilst our preferred approach is to give advice and guidance we will not hesitate to take action around those showing a complete disregard for the COVID regulations.
Special Constables
Our Gedling team of volunteer Special Constables continue to give our local team’s brilliant support. Over the last month the Gedling team of six officers have given up 240 hours of their own time to support policing colleagues and our local communities. The team have seized 18 vehicles, arrested 3 drivers for drink/drug driving offences and reported 18 people for summons for a variety of offences. Alongside this the team have assisted in policing of hotspots across the area and assisted in our operation to deal with burglary offences in the Carlton and Porchester area.
Priory Junior School Q&A
Finally on March 26 I met virtually with some of the children from the ‘Priory Junior School’ in Gedling to answer some questions about my role as a Neighbourhood Policing Inspector and policing as a whole. There were some fantastic questions about how we
investigate crime and gather evidence as part of our investigations. Overall I was really impressed with the questions put together and I hope that we’ll be able to pop in and visit the school in person as we move into the summer. I’d just like to pass on my thanks to the school for the invite.
