Good afternoon,
We have continued to deploy Operation Momentum, providing a visible presence around the City from Chester Beat, Response and Forcewide resources including the Roads Crime Unit and Armed Response Vehicles providing a visible presence but also continuing to gather evidence in relation to longer term solutions on the ASB Pathway.
I have mentioned Operation Watchmaker previously but I now have the final results of this. This operation involved the Police working in collaboration with Chester Against Business Crime and the Business Crime Reduction Partnership visited Chester City Centre and Cheshire Oaks to carry out high visibility patrols and plain clothed patrols as well as give advice and reassurance to staff working in the businesses. In February’s operation, patrols arrested those caught committing crimes, while other officers arrested those wanted for previous theft offences.
People were caught committing crimes in establishments ranging from garden centres and pharmacies to supermarkets and clothing stores. People were found with alcohol, clothing and cosmetics running into the thousands collectively. There were 41 people dealt with across both Local Policing Units. From these, 50 offences were brought to justice with 19 crimes resulting in charge and remand, 15 crimes resulting in charge and bail, 14 crimes resulting in community resolution disposals, one summons and one caution. A number of those charged have since been to court already and more are due for hearings in March and April.
We will continue to work with retailers to target these offenders, whilst also supporting with crime prevention advice along with support from our Design Out Crime Officer, who as the name suggests can look at the design of premises and how this can be more effective in terms of preventing crime.
Yesterday we carried out an a multi-agency day of action targeting a range of criminality across the City working together with partners from several organisations to tackle and disrupt criminality, while providing a reassuring presence for the public and business owners.
The activities that took place in Chester included:
- Passive drugs dogs were deployed within Chester city centre to detect anyone carrying illegal drugs.
- Visits by the Western Exploitation Team to help protect vulnerable people.
- A warrant was executed at an address in Blacon.
- The Roads and Crime Unit, plus the Motorcycle Unit, were deployed, targeting the illegal use of e-bikes and those using Chester’s roads for criminality.
- The Sex Offender Management Unit carried out visits to registered sex offenders to ensure they were complying with any orders they are subject to.
- The Safer Streets Bus was deployed to the Countess of Chester Country Park to engage with the public and complete Residents Voice Surveys.
- The Underwater Search Unit carried out proactive searches of the canal in the Cow Lane bridge area.
- The County Lines Task Force from British Transport Police was deployed to Chester Railway Station to target those travelling by train to commit criminality in the area.
- Licensing visits were carried out at various shops across Chester city centre.
- Taxi licensing checks were carried out in conjunction with Cheshire West and Chester Licensing Team to ensure they were compliant with their regulations.
- Over the course of the day there were the following results:
- Eight arrests including for theft of a motor vehicle, disqualified driving and immigration offences.
- 14 Traffic Offence Reports issued.
- Three vehicle seizures.
- Three taxi drivers given advisory notices.
- 25 stop searches during the passive drug dog operation.
A video has been produced which provides an overview of the day which can be viewed by following this link https://youtu.be/33vcLH9tdww?si=pmFNeOtPUE5jTLOx
We continue to utilise Residents Voice to identify the issues that are causing the public concern. As the survey is anonymous we try to feedback on social media the work we are doing to dela with these issues. Please continue to complete these surveys. Whilst it is called a Residents Voice survey, it is equally important we hear from those who work in the City, so this is open to everyone to complete. If you have completed it before, please complete it on a regular basis so we are kept up to date with the current issues that are causing concern.
The link to the survey is below, and should only take a few minutes to complete.
Resident’s voice | Cheshire Constabulary
If there are any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
James
James Wilson – Inspector – Chester Local Policing Unit
Chester Police Station| Blacon Avenue |Chester| Cheshire | CH1 5BD
Phone: 01606 364666 | Email: james.wilson@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
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