Crime rates drop as officers carry out 16,000 hours of patrols

Crime rates have fallen and more than 500 arrests have been made following a significant effort by our officers to complete more than 16,000 hours of patrols in hotspot areas.

Since May last year, local officers have been carrying out overtime duties across 19 different hotspot locations in an effort to drive down crime and to tackle the main concerns of people and businesses in our communities.

It comes following a £1-million allocation to the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime to tackle knife crime, serious violence and anti-social behaviour.

More than 16,000 hours of patrols later, we’ve been able to:

• Reduce overall crime by four per cent
• Reduce knife crime by 26 per cent
• Arrest 536 suspects
• Reduce serious violence by eight per cent
• Carry out 455 stop searches
• Record over 16,000 engagements with local people and businesses
• Carry out 137 drug seizures.

The national Action Fund pot is linked to the government’s Safer Streets Mission to halve knife crime in 10 years and crack down on ASB.

Acting Chief Superintendent John Owen, who leads on our problem-solving approach, said: “This initiative aimed to reduce crime in the worst affected areas in Staffordshire, and it has clearly delivered on that aim.

“It has been achieved through a huge, consorted effort alongside the Staffordshire Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Commissioner, and the Home Office, to invest strongly in local policing and to use all of the modern-day tools available to tackle people’s main concerns effectively.

“We have delivered over 16,000 hours of additional high-visibility patrols, which means that 667 days of policing activity has been concentrated in the areas that need it most.

“Importantly, these patrols have been carefully structured around our data, making sure we put our officers in the right place, at the right time, and with all of the information and tools needed to make a notable difference to crime in local communities.

“While the numbers are incredibly encouraging for us and local people, this initiative has clearly shown the effectiveness of this approach moving forward.

“We have an opportunity now to build on these successes in Staffordshire and to continue using a problem-solving approach to deliver tangible results for our residents and businesses.”

While we have experienced a small increase in ASB across the 19 areas, we are continuing work proactively in local communities to address the root causes of these issues and to use all of the legislative powers we have to stop prolific offenders.

In Stoke-on-Trent, this approach was praised by a local businessman who was experiencing persistent issues with shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and disorder.

Before our problem-solving approach started, we had received 25 reports of offences at the store.

After working with the shopkeeper, no further reports were received.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said: “The £1-million allocated last May was the last year of four years of sustained funding of police hotspot activity, which consecutive governments have supported.

“Our communities tell me they want to see a visible, proactive police presence in our town centres, responding to the issues that matter to them. This targeted activity really demonstrates the value of a problem-solving approach in helping to tackle crime, and shoplifting in particular.”