New policing plans to combat knife crime in Nottingham city centre this summer are being drawn up.
Nottingham sees an increase in footfall during the summer months and the force wants people living, working and visiting the city centre to feel safe.
Officers are working with partners on new multi-agency plans to crackdown on a small number of knife carriers while providing education and reassurance to the wider public.
The plans are analysing the links between knife crime and drug supply, rough sleeping and begging.
They are also a further response to a series of knife crime-related incidents in the city centre during March.
High-visibility policing following these incidents received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the public and officers are determined to ensure people continue to feel reassured by the police response.
Chief Inspector Karl Thomas, the force’s knife crime lead, said:
“Our message to knife carriers who bring weapons into the city remains clear.
“You will be arrested and we will do everything in our power to put you before the courts or ban you from the city centre.
“However, we also know it is vitally important that people continue to feel safe when working in, living in and visiting the city centre – and that is what these plans ultimately aim to achieve.”
Officers will be using intelligence to identify high-risk areas in which to carry out both high-visibility and plain clothes patrols.
Stop and search powers will be utilised to detect weapons and seize them.
Marked police cars are known to significantly reduce fear of crime and these will be utilised in Old Market Square, Clumber Street, St Mary’s Place and other locations.
In addition, knife arches will be deployed at key locations.
Officers are also drawing up plans to liaise as closely as possible with CCTV operators and make even better use of the city centre’s extensive network of cameras.
The force’s dedicated knife crime team will continue to carry out its own patrols, which in the city centre alone since March have resulted in 37 arrests, 133 stop searches, 46 drug seizures and 28 weapons being taken off the streets.
Chief Inspector Thomas said:
“Knife arches have both a deterrent and detection capability. Plain clothes officer will be in place to spot those who evade the arch or change their behaviour when spotting them.
“We also hope to introduce regular walk-arounds with other support agencies, in particular to provide support to homeless people and drug users. We know these people are more likely to carry knives.
“We hope the public will be reassured by this raft of additional measures, which will only enhance the policing of the city centre.
“It will also enhance long-term measures to combat knife crime and associated issues, including criminal behaviour orders to ban offenders from the city centre.”
Cllr Corall Jenkins, Nottingham City Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Waste and Equalities said:
“Feeling safe in your city is fundamental – whether you’re living here, working here, or just visiting. Like many other places across the UK, Nottingham has seen the impact that knife crime can have on individuals, families and communities, and we take that incredibly seriously.
“Our Council Plan commits to empowering safe communities, and this is a clear example of what that looks like in practice – partners coming together to tackle the causes of knife crime, support vulnerable people, and take visible, joined-up action in the areas that need it most.
“These plans will strengthen the work already happening through our Love Your City Centre campaign to build a more vibrant, connected and resilient Nottingham. By combining enforcement with community engagement and support, we are addressing the immediate concerns while laying the foundations for long-term, lasting change.”
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