FROM YOUR LPU COMMANDER

MESSAGE FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2008

Neighbourhood Policing is now well established at Charnwood Local Policing Unit (LPU) with Beat teams consulting the community and agreeing priorities that you would like us to tackle.

Examples in the last six months include anti-social behaviour hotspots,nuisance vehicles, underage drinking and road safety issues. Some of these have been referred to our monthly Joint Action Group meeting which has co-ordinated work between us and our partners including departments within Charnwood Borough Council for housing, anti-social behaviour, liquor licensing, Street Wardens and Youth Services. Identifying the ring leaders of anti-social behaviour for early intervention work by ourselves, and partners, has had positive results with some of our beat areas seeing recent reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour of up to 50%

Crime across the LPU has reduced by 10% for the period April 2007 to February 2008, compared to the same time period the previous year. This equates to 549 less victims of crime. In the last newsletter I referred to an increase in criminal damage of 16%. Joint initiatives to combat this crime has not only reversed the trend but achieved a reduction of -2%. This equates to 100 less victims of criminal damage between August 2007 and February 2008 compared to the same period in the previous year.

In the last few months we have executed over 12 Class 'A' drugs warrants in Mountsorrel and seized stolen property and drugs, as well as helping to secure the eviction of problem tenants.

Operation X-ray has targeted under age drinking with alcohol confiscations and follow up visits to parents and guardians. We are using a device called Alco Blow which officers are taking out on patrol to detect the presence of alcohol in open containers and this initiative will continue over the next six months.

Inspector Catherine Yallop
Charnwood LPU Commander