More than 40 problem management plans are now active across the Nottinghamshire Police force area protecting people from harm and reducing offending by addressing the underlying root causes of issues that can lead to crime.
Our Prevention Hub, which was created in 2023, has subject matter experts to help deliver and coordinate problem-solving activity on the frontline and give appropriate direction to support local teams to find long-term solutions that make a difference to our communities.
The hub is a collaboration between multiple force departments responsible for developing and delivering strategies to prevent crime and disorder throughout the city and county.
It acts as a central point within the organisation to coordinate and align our problem-solving work to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) national policing prevention strategy, and also to deliver key prevention services, working in collaboration with partner agencies including local authorities, to address the root causes of issues that can lead to crime.
A new neighbourhood policing model has also helped put prolific shoplifters behind bars, boarded up problem houses, stopped off-road bikers and seen significant reductions in theft and anti-social behaviour in communities across the city and county.
There are currently more than 40 problem management plans already underway right across the city and county focussed on improving the quality of life for local people and on preventing and minimising the risk of harm to individuals.
These plans are targeting a range of issues affecting our communities including antisocial behaviour, shop theft, illegal drug supply, and public order offences.
A number of neighbourhood policing good news stories have highlighted the positive impact the problem-solving approach has had in our communities including:
- In Sherwood, effective problem management helped reduce antisocial behaviour around a group of homes by 92 per cent
- Problem-solving officers’ work contributed to reports of antisocial behaviour dropping by 90 per cent around the town centre in West Bridgford
- Reports of antisocial behaviour in East Leake fell by more than 80 per cent since a problem management plan was implemented
- Aggressive begging reduced by more than a third at Hyson Green’s Asda store after a coordinated problem management plan was put in place
- The force launched Operation Wheelspin last year as part of a coordinated county-wide response to car cruising, with data revealing offences had since decreased by 20 per cent
Chief Inspector Steven O’Neill, of the Prevention Hub, said: “The aims of the hub align with the national policing prevention strategy – fewer victims, fewer offences, and less demand on policing, achieved by addressing underlying causes and using partnership-oriented problem-solving and evidence-based policing.
“By being proactive to prevent crime, we are reducing demand on officers who have not had to repeatedly attend the same incidents and can instead focus their efforts on other priorities.
“This helps to ensure officers are tackling areas of concern, with proactive hotspot policing to keep our communities safe.
“There are countless examples of fantastic collaborative work between our Prevention Hub and other local policing teams, working closely with residents and businesses, which have helped ensure areas have seen a reduction in criminal activity as well as deterring crime.
“Prevention Hub staff – including problem-solving coordinators, analysts, designing out crime officers, and crime prevention officers – will also be a key part of the force’s work to prevent and reduce issues, such as antisocial behaviour, in our city and county over the summer holidays.
“I would urge members of the public to please report all instances of antisocial behaviour to Nottinghamshire Police as this helps our teams to identify areas of concern and allows officers to attend incidents at the earliest opportunity.”
