Ove the last week we have continued to deploy on Operation Momentum in the City Centre. This has involved the City Beat Team, supported by Response colleagues, aswell as Armed Response and Roads Crime Unit Officers deploying to Chester to provide additional visibility and target those causing crime and disorder. The City Team have carried out a plain clothes operation in the City this week targeting those using and supplying drugs, retail theft, and anti social Behaviour. This has resulted in arrests and also acts as a deterrent to criminals when they are aware that plain clothes officers are operating in the City.
We have commissioned the Design Out Crime Officer to carry out a survey at a location in the City, where we have received calls in relation to anti social behaviour, with a view to identify short, medium and log terms solutions at the location to prevent this activity. This looks at the environment and how features could be changed to make it more difficult or less desirable to cause crime and disorder. I will be following up these recommendations to see which ones can be implemented.
On Saturday Chester Races took place, so I authorised a Dispersal to be in place over the weekend to provide officers with an option to deal with anyone causing problems at an early stage by dispersing them from the City, before their behaviour escalates. I included Friday night aswell to this could be utilised as part of the Night Time Economy. This was utilised a number of times over the weekend.
Before the meeting we implemented Operation Plus, which provides a visible presence in the City to set the tone in terms of expected behaviour and explain the terms of the Public Space Protection Order, so people are aware of what they can and cant do in the City. This operation also involves the deployment of Passive Drug Search Dogs, which have been supplied by Chester Race course. These deployed with officers to several areas of the City, where officers stopped a number of people following indication by the dog and resulted in some positive searches. Not only do these operations provide a visible presence they are also a deterrent to people who may intend to attend the City carrying drugs.
After the meeting a number of officers were deployed into the City to supplement our Night Time Economy Operation. Again the Dispersal powers were utilised to exclude those causing problems, but we also made arrests for Public Order offences and an assault.
You will be aware that we have utilised Dispersals in the City, to deal with those causing crime and disorder. We have been robust in terms of dealing with those discovered to have breached Dispersal, by arresting them and when charged to attend court, they have been issued with Bail Conditions not to be in Chester City Centre. For those who are regularly coming to our attention, we are putting them onto the ASB Pathway which leads to additional powers such as Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders to try to have a more positive effect on their behaviour longer term.
Below is a link to Residents Voice, which is a survey which allows you to tell us about the things you would like us to focus on in your area. Whilst it is called Residents Voice, this is also open for Businesses to complete which is something I would encourage. I know this has been circulated before but it can be completed by people again, as many times as they want, as the issues may change and it’s important that the results are current.
