Staffordshire Police patrols totalling over 10,000 hours help reduce crime figures across 19 hotspot areas
Staffordshire Police officers have spent 10,000 hours on patrol in just over six months across 19 hotspot areas as part of their ongoing strategy to reduce crime in the county.
From May this year, Staffordshire Police force has put extra investment into neighbourhood policing teams, helping them to spend more time on foot in local communities, dealing with the issues that affect them the most.
In the last 12 months, they have received more than 17,000 reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB), a 12 per cent increase on the previous year.
ASB was identified as one of the main concerns of the community, along with knife crime and serious violence, so since May, and since patrols have begun crime rates have fallen by around nine per cent in areas that were identified as hotspots for serious violence, knife crime and anti-social behaviour.
Since May, knife crime has reduced by 26 per cent, there has been a four per cent reduction in serious violence and around 100 arrests have been made during these patrols.
Superintendent John Owen said: "Since we invested in local policing in Staffordshire and focused resources on issues that matter most to local communities, we have seen more than 17,000 arrests made and an overall reduction in crime, and this is in addition to work done by neighbourhood officers and PCSOs already.
"This highlights that having officers 'back on the beat', maintaining a visible presence in local communities is an effective policing model and we are bridging the gap between officers and local communities.
"We will continue to work hard alongside local partners to tackle the issues that matter most to local people, making Staffordshire a safer place to live and work for all."
Ben Adams, Staffordshire Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Commissioner, said: “Hot spot patrolling has had a positive impact in Staffordshire for three years now. I know residents and businesses value a visible police presence, so I welcome this government continuing to provide this Action Fund to Commissioners.
“Importantly, the patrols have also seen the police work more closely with local councils and other community safety partners - a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan.
“There is more work to be done, however, and I look forward to hearing more about the impact of these patrols as they continue.”
