Inspector Chris Pearson leads the Gedling Neighbourhood Policing team which helps crack crime across the borough.
Here’s his latest update on progress his team made over October…
PCC event
Back on October 7 I was part of the Police and Crime Commissioners ‘Have your say’ event for Gedling.
I joined Gedling MP Tom Randall, Chief Inspector Heather Sutton
and the PCC in answering a few questions about policing across the Gedling Borough.
We discussed our policing priorities, how these are set and I gave an outline of some of the work that both the Neighbourhood Policing and Operation Reacher teams have carried out so far this year.
The event was live streamed on Youtube and Facebook. If you missed this and would like to watch the update then it can be found online at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWKXhyedElM
Policing Priorities Update
The policing priorities for Gedling have now been refreshed for this quarter.
I recently met with colleagues from Gedling Borough Council where we agreed that the policing priorities for the area would remain Anti-Social Behaviour, Residential Burglary and Drug Supply until the end of 2021.
Drug Supply
Over the last month the Gedling Reacher and Neighbourhood teams have been carrying out more enforcement activity following information received about drug supply in the community.
I have always been very clear that drugs are linked to more serious crime/
anti-social behaviour and would therefore remain top priority for us. In the last month we have carried out three warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act with controlled drugs recovered on each occasion.
On October 29 the Gedling South team carried out a warrant at Hickling Road, Mapperley. Officers located a full house of cannabis plants (over 200) and arrested a 20-year-old male who has since been charged.
- In addition to this Gedling officers have also been involved in the following:
- Found a cannabis grow in the roof of a residential property on Ashe Close, Arnold on October 4
- Arrested two males on Ramsdale Avenue, Calverton. A 16-year-old and 30-year-old male were arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences following the discovery of Class A drugs on October 17.
- Carried out two warrants on Collyer Road, Calverton following reports of drug dealing. Class A and B drugs were recovered from the address on October 30.
- Arrested a 41 year old male and 47 year old female on 31st October following a vehicle stop on Lingwood Lane, Lambley with Class A drugs found.
- As ever I look forward to seeing the investigations progress and no doubt we will secure charges in relation the supply and use of controlled drugs in our communities.
Burglary
Burglary continues to be a priority at Gedling as it has a huge effect on victims.
Our focus has been on overnight patrols to deter offending. In the last month there has been a slight decrease in offending compared to September with a 13% reduction recorded. That said there is always more to do and we will sharing crime prevention advice in the run up to Christmas so please keep a look out for that on our social media
and website.
In terms of offences this month there have been three dwelling burglaries with the first reported on Onchan Drive, Carlton on 27th October and the
second on Hillside Avenue, Mapperley on 28th October.
Over in the Gedling North area offenders also tried to gain entry to a conservatory on Ascot Drive, Redhill overnight on 4th October.
In the last 12 months Burglary has reduced by 23% which is a reduction of over 80 offences when compared to 2019-2020 which is really positive news.
Anti-social behaviour
We have stepped up our efforts around anti-social behaviour in the last month by launching ‘Operation Interlude’ in Arnold.
The operation has been put together by the neighbourhood policing team at Arnold and has been supported by Gedling CCTV, Special Constables and colleagues from Operation Reacher.
Sadly the operation has become necessary due the behaviour of a small number who have been involved in antisocial behaviour around the town centre. During the month of October we received reports of youths throwing items from a supermarket roof including potatoes, plastic bottles and a shopping trolley. Clearly this type of behaviour is dangerous and
completely unacceptable.
On Friday 22nd October I joined the Arnold team on patrol for the evening as we deployed into Arnold, carrying out both high-visibility and plain
clothes patrols.
Over the weekend five people were given a direction to leave the town
centre to prevent further anti-social behaviour from taking place. Three individuals were searched resulting in the recovery of Cannabis and two vehicles were seized due to them being used in anti-social manner around the town centre.
On the Saturday evening one male failed to leave as directed and was arrested. He will now appear before Nottingham Magistrates Court.
‘Operation Interlude’ will continue in Arnold in the run up to Christmas and I hope that this sends out a clear message that ASB and alcohol related violence will not be tolerated.
We are working closely with the Council wardens, CCTV operators and
licensing colleagues to prevent this type of behaviour.
Over in Gedling South the team have carried out patrols following a rise in complaints about the anti-social use of cars, mopeds and off-road motorbikes. Officers have been working in the area of Pintail Close and Colwick Industrial Estate in order to deal with those involved in car cruise activity.
On October 29 officers seized an off-road bike being ridden on Douglas Avenue, Carlton. A 16-year-old male has been dealt with by officers for a number of offences in relation to the use of the bike.
Autocrime
Moving on I wanted to talk about our ongoing operation to tackle overnight Autocrime.
Last week we carried out a day of enforcement in relation to overnight offences in Colwick, Mapperley, Woodthorpe and Calverton.
Offenders had targeted insecure vehicles before taking cash, bank cards and other personal belongings. During the day of action (27th October) officers arrested two males and voluntarily interviewed another.
It was a long day for all involved but I’m pleased that two males, aged 46 and 24 were charged with a number of offences including theft from motor vehicle, fraud and possession of an offensive weapon. Both males were remanded in custody to appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court
Stabbing incident
Sadly officers attended to a report of two males having sustained stab wounds on Main Road, Gedling on the evening of 22nd October. Clearly this is a serious incident and I have always been very clear that knife crime will not be tolerated.
Our CID colleagues continue to investigate this incident and have now made two arrests as part of their investigation.
If you have any information at all then please contact us quoting incident
780 22/10/2021.
As we approach the Christmas period we will be carrying out walk
throughs of our licensed premises to deter alcohol related violence. We will be working with local ‘Pub Watch’ groups and licensing colleagues. Positive action will be taken against those involved in anti-social behaviour or violence and in terms of knife crime we will be supporting a national week of action in November which will see an increase in police activity around those suspected to be carrying knives.
If you know that someone is carrying a knife then please let us know on 101 or alternatively report this through the Crimestoppers Charity on 0800555111.
Phone scam
Finally phone scams are on the increase and I’ve been made aware of a new ‘Scam’ which targets WhatsApp users.
The users receive Whatsapp messages claiming to be from a son or daughter who has lost, damaged or had their mobile phone stolen. In
some of the reports the names being given are correct. The messages then request to borrow money stating that they are unable to access their online banking due to a change of phone number.
Should you receive a similar message to this then please verify any requests for money in person so that money is not transferred to those
involved in Fraud.
If you receive a similar message to this then please report this to ‘Action Fraud’ through their website.
