Chester City Centre Policing Update 10th November 2024

Good afternoon,

Please find below this week’s City Centre Policing update.

Operation Momentum

This week we continued to deploy Operation Momentum in the City Centre and continue to receive great support from the Western Area Problem Solving Team who support the City Beat Team, patrolling in both uniform and plain clothes. They, like the Beat team, target hot spots and carry out stop searches of those suspected to be committing offences. They have made a number of arrests. We also continue to receive support from other specialist units such as the Roads Crime Unit and Armed Response Vehicles in providing visibility in the City.

Residents Voice

I know I refer to the Residents Voice each week, but it’s really important that we get your views and the views of the wider public living and working in Chester, as to the issues that are concerning them. We review the results of the surveys on a daily basis to ensure we are responding to these issues. We would really appreciate you completing  the survey on a regular basis and encouraging people in your networks to complete them. We will ensure we keep you updated as to the action we have taken in response to the concerns raised. The survey is anonymous and can be accessed via the below link

Resident’s voice | Cheshire Constabulary

I also have cards with a QR Code on which can access the survey. If you have people raising issues with you in your role, I can send you one of these cards so they can scan the code and complete a survey there and then. Please let me know if you want me to send you one.

Closure Order

The City Beat Team have secured  a three-month Closure Order against the address on Charlotte Court, Chester. During the hearing at Chester Magistrates Court, it was heard that the occupant of the property, regularly allowed the both usage and supply of class A and class B drugs – with him also engaging in criminality. This frequent drug-related activity understandably, caused significant fear and concern amongst other residents living nearby. The team worked with residents living nearby to gather a considerable amount of evidence to progress the application for a full Closure Order against the property, benefiting the entire local community. Now that the order has been issued, the property will be closed for a period of three months, with all doors and windows boarded up to secure it. During this timeframe, anyone who attempts to enter the address could face a fine or even a prison sentence.

We will continue to utilise a range of powers to target criminality and anti social behaviour.

Ask for Angela

Ask for Angela is a scheme that aims to ensure that anyone who is feeling vulnerable or unsafe is able to get the support they need. This could be on a night out, on a date, meeting friends and other situations. The scheme works by training staff in vulnerability management and what to do when someone Asks for Angela.

The trained member of staff will understand the person asking is in need of help and support and will be able to respond in an appropriate, discreet way. They might call security, call the Police, lead the person to a safe space, or help them leave the premises unnoticed. It supports venues to keep their customers safe, which in turn improves perceptions of safety and patronage in the Night Time Rconomy.

We have recently been working with Licensed Premises to test the response when staff are asked for Angela, and working to ensure that there is a consistent approach. We have received great support from the licensed premises and security companies in relation to this. This is a really important part of the preparation as we approach Christmas when we will see a significant increase in foot fall as part of the Night Time Economy.

Licensing Visits

Our Police Licensing officer has been conducting visits to Licensed premises over the weekend to work with Licensees and ensure that premises are abiding by their license conditions. She works closely with the Local Authority Licensing Team and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, carrying out regular joint visits to ensure venues are safe and compliant with their licences. We work very closely with Pub Watch, CCTV and the Street Angels to ensure a safe Night Time Economy.

Business Crime

Following on from the Safer Business Action week a couple of weeks ago, we continue to work with businesses as part of the day time economy to tackle crime and anti social behaviour. This includes looking at ways we can deter offenders from committing offences then detect them quickly if they do take place. We work closely with the Chester Against Business Crime Team, with officers attending the weekly CABC meetings where they work with businesses to share information and intelligence about crimes and offenders.

Social Media Accounts

We have a range of social media accounts. On Instagram we have a Cheshire Police account, with posts about activities that have been taking place.

On Facebook we have a Cheshire Police, Chester Police and Chester City Police accounts, aswell as accounts covering the other Chester Beat Cluster areas and accounts from some of our specialist units. These accounts are regularly updated with the work we are doing in Chester and if you are on Facebook I would encourage you to follow them. If you have an organisational account please can you share some of our posts, as this helps amplify the security and deterrence messages we are passing in order to reassure people living, working and visiting Chester, but also deter those who are seeking to commit criminal offences.

Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching, we are about to launch our Christmas policing operation. This will have a wide range of aspects to it and include additional high visibility patrols in the City, Drug Dog operations, Licensing operations, Armed Patrols, Project Servator deployments to name a few. I will keep you updated throughout this period of the work we are doing. As above, this will be supported by posts and photographs on our social media accounts.

Cyber Crime Unit

This week our Cyber Crime Unit were in the Grosvenor Precinct for two days for a public engagement event.  They were there to talk about online safety  and cyber crime. 

They were joined by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service who were providing information and advice about road safety and fire prevention.

They will be returning to the Grosvenor Precinct at the end of the month to carry out further similar activity. It is really important that we spread the message about cyber crime and how to prevent it, as this is a growing area of criminality which targets all aspects of society.

I hope you have found this informative. Please can you pass on this update to people in your organisations and networks.

If you have any questions please let me know.

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

Visit www.cheshire.police.uk | Follow @cheshirepolice on Twitter | Like Cheshire Police on Facebook

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