Joint action fights crime

As you can read in the main section of Outlook, the new locally-based Neighbourhood Action Units (NAUs) have reduced crime rates around the city.

The seven new units – made up of 102 Council-funded Police officers – replaced the Safer Communities Units and Youth Action Teams earlier this year.

Now, six months on, the new NAUs have contributed to almost a 20 per cent drop in crimes such as vandalism and violence.

The NAU is a Council/Police model that is receiving significant attention across the country.

They tackle the issues that are identified by local people as causing them the most concern.

The teams are made up of experienced officers and are flexible in their working times to ensure that they are available when and where they can make the greatest impact.

These officers will also jointly patrol with other partners such as Environmental Wardens.

...and the East crime successes?

Following a number of complaints of antisocial behaviour at lunchtimes involving schoolchildren, officers from the East Neighbourhood Action Unit, along with the Community Concierge and Environmental Wardens, carried out joint patrolling.

In areas close to the three high schools they targeted littering, cycling on pavements and antisocial behaviour.

These patrols have had a noticeable impact on combating problems and cutting offending rates as well as generating a positive response and excellent feedback from local residents.

To combat the illegal and antisocial use of mini motorcycles, off-road Police motorcylists as well as plain clothes and uniformed officers joined Community Safety staff.

 The operation resulted in two motorcycles recovered and two antisocial behaviour warnings administered. Six road traffic offences were also detected.