Shoppers and businesses in West Bridgford will see increased police patrols and local action to tackle town centre crime this summer, after the Home Secretary launched a major blitz to support high streets.
The blitz – which will see officers in town centres during peak times – has been welcomed by James Naish, MP for Rushcliffe. More than 500 towns have signed up to the Home Secretary’s Safer Streets summer crackdown.
James Naish MP said: “I welcome this initiative which will give confidence to people who use West Bridgford town centre. We all deserve town centres and high streets that are thriving, and this includes taking measures to keep shoppers and shop workers safe.”
In Nottinghamshire, a total of 10 towns will be part of the scheme including West Bridgford in Rushcliffe, Beeston in Broxtowe and Arnold in Gedling. The towns will see increased police patrols and local action to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Under the previous government, shoplifting soared to record levels, with a 70% increase in shoplifting in the Conservatives’ last two years in office. In response, Police and Crime Commissioners have been asked to develop local action plans with police, businesses and local councils with the aim of supporting town centres to become vibrant places where people want to live, work and spend time.
Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Gary Godden, said: “Town centres are focal points for communities so it’s important that people feel safe when they go there, whether it is for work, leisure or because they live there. By coming together as partners to visibly showcase some of the great work that is going on every day to keep people safe, we want to give people confidence that our town centres are safe and enjoyable places.”
The government is starting the process of rebuilding local policing after the number of PCSOs was slashed by half, and the number of Special Constables was cut by two-thirds. It has committed to putting 13,000 more police personnel in neighbourhood roles over the course of this parliament, backed by a £200 million cash injection in the first year.
Rushcliffe’s police force has experienced a 35% increase in filled positions since last summer, with an additional 70 officers, PCSOs and Special Constables expected to join Nottinghamshire’s police force over the next 12 months.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “High streets and town centres are the very heart of our communities. Residents and businesses have the right to feel safe in their towns. But the last government left a surge in shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour which has left too many town centres feeling abandoned.
“It’s time to turn this round, that’s why I have called on police forces and councils to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime, to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished.”
James Naish MP concluded: “Even though we know that crime is low in Rushcliffe, we want things to stay that way. I, therefore, welcome this initiative and the boost to local policing, and will continue to push for officers to spend as much time as possible on the beat where residents can see and feel them making a direct difference to anti-social behaviour and our day-to-day lives.”
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