Supt Mel Paley – North Worcestershire LPA Commander – writes for the Standard.
WHEN I last wrote we were amid shorter days and colder weather.
Without tempting fate we seem to be making ground now towards some warmer weather and more daylight.
With the longer days, I am pleased to say policing traditionally sees less crime. Particularly burglaries which may have been committed by opportunistic thieves noticing a house is not occupied when lights are off in the evening or car crimes where a would-be thief may steal a car left by its owner running to defrost.
That said there is never room for complacency and I would always urge you to take every opportunity to keep yourself and your possessions safe.
Your local Safer Neighbourhood Teams holds regular surgeries in the community (details of when and where can be found on Neighbourhood Matters – neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk – or by contacting the local Safer Neighbourhood Team officers on Facebook or via email.)
You can meet with officers at local surgeries to discuss any concerns and get some valuable crime prevention advice.
Among our current policing priorities are a focus on burglary, vehicle crime, drug offences, business crime and road safety.
These issues are being proactively tackled by local Safer Neighbourhood Tean officers, your Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team, local detectives and wider force resources, such as roads policing.
Whilst some of our work is not always apparent (such as when we are policing in ‘plain clothes’), I can assure you we’re out in the community, working hard to keep you and your possessions safe.
I promised to update you about a policing operation we were planning when I previously wrote.
Operation Forefront was a day of action across the entire geography of North Worcestershire in March.
Every policing area team was involved in the day.
A variety of activities were planned and delivered, including visits to schools, businesses and community groups to provide crime awareness and prevention guidance.
A multi-agency operation was completed at the railway station to prevent and disrupt travelling criminality.
A warrant was successfully executed at a premises suspected of housing stolen items of property with a number of arrests made.
Several other ‘wanted’ offenders were arrested, with cases continuing to be built so we can ensure offenders are put before the courts.
The day of action was highly successful and, importantly, resulted in many of these outcomes because of your community support.
On behalf of all the officers and staff, I want to thank you.
We could not provide our service without your community engagement.
