A new proactive police operation targeting overnight crime in Rushcliffe borough resulted in nine people being arrested.
The operation, held in West Bridgford and a number of the borough’s larger villages on Friday and Saturday night, was launched after burglary was identified as a top neighbourhood policing priority for Rushcliffe.
A drone was deployed during the operation, roads policing trained staff were patrolling on main roads and both plain-clothed and uniformed officers were used to identify and deal with any offenders.
Mobile and foot patrols were carried out covering entire beat areas, as well as specific areas known to attract criminal behaviour, and a team of Specials conducted high visibility patrols in Rushcliffe villages on both nights.
A number of vehicle stops and searches led to police taking action.
Earlier on Friday Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford and Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping joined officers from the Rushcliffe neighbourhood policing team in sharing crime prevention advice with residents in areas most affected by burglaries.
It also marked the launch of the force’s new ‘what matters’ neighbourhood policing priority survey – one of the biggest public consultation exercises in its history.
Police are urging members of the public to have their say on local policing priorities by completing the survey – giving the public a genuine opportunity to influence where local police in their area should focus their efforts.
The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and is now available for members of the public to complete online at www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/whatmatters
As well as being made available online, the public will also be able to complete the survey face-to-face with local officers in their area as part of their everyday work to ensure that as many views as possible are considered.
Anyone who completes the survey will also be given the opportunity to register to receive further updates, alerts and crime prevention advice from Nottinghamshire Police officers in their area via Neighbourhood Alert.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Craig Berry, who is responsible for local policing in the Rushcliffe borough, said: “This latest operation was part of our ongoing work to tackle and reduce serious acquisitive crime, including burglary, and to target offenders using our roads to travel into Rushcliffe and commit overnight crime.
“We have seen a gradual increase in burglary and rural crime in Rushcliffe over the last year, with criminals travelling into the borough and then breaking into homes and vehicles.
“One of our current ‘hotspot’ areas for overnight crime is West Bridgford which was one of the areas where we focused our operational activity on Friday and Saturday night.”
As a result of the operation four men, aged 25, 22, 21 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences, a 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving offences and a 29-year-old man was arrested for drug and driving offences.
A 41-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were detained on suspicion of theft and a 42-year-old man was arrested having been wanted on recall to prison.
As well as those arrested, two men aged 26 and 18 were summonsed to court and three men, aged 24, 20 and 18, received cautions/warnings for drug offences.
Officers also recovered two quad bikes and returned them to their owner after responding to a report of a burglary in Stanford on Soar during the early hours of Saturday. Enquiries are ongoing to trace the offenders.
Insp Berry added: “We continue to work closely with our partners, including Rushcliffe Borough Council, to tackle those crimes that matter most to local people and to bring offenders to justice.
“I want to reassure the public of our commitment in cracking down on the issues which they have told us matter most to them.
“We will act on feedback received from our local communities. That’s why it’s so important for people to take the opportunity to have their say on what policing priorities matter most to them where they live by completing the force’s new neighbourhood policing priority survey.”
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis joined officers for the operation in West Bridgford on Saturday night.
He said: “We are delighted to support this operation which not only took place in West Bridgford but also in some of our more rural towns and villages. “The safety of our residents is of paramount importance to us and it is great to be working with the police to resolve any issues affecting the borough.
“We also encourage residents to take part in Nottinghamshire Police’s ‘what matters’ survey to provide information on issues affecting your local area.”
To have your say on local policing priorities in your area, visit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/whatmatters
PHOTOS: Inspector Craig Berry briefs officers ahead of the operation’s launch; officers on mobile patrol; a drone was deployed as part of the operation; a large bag of cannabis was recovered following a vehicle stop in Ruddington on Saturday night, with two occupants arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis
