Threats such as serious organised crime and cybercrime demand a coordinated and forward-looking approach. By focusing on prevention, disruption, and collaboration with regional and national partners, it is possible to build resilience and protect communities from these evolving challenges.
Financial pressures may contribute to an increase in crimes like theft, burglary, and robbery. It is important to ensure these offences are taken seriously, supporting victims and providing reassurance to affected communities, including businesses and retailers, through visible and proactive policing.
Rural areas face unique challenges, including agricultural theft, heritage and wildlife crime, and environmental offences such as fly-tipping. Strengthening capabilities to respond to these issues, including fostering collaboration with partners, is vital. Similarly, tackling anti-social behaviour remains a priority, requiring a balance of enforcement, prevention, and community engagement to deliver sustainable solutions.
The impact of crime and anti-social behaviour on communities is also significant, influencing quality of life and the sense of safety in towns, villages, and rural areas alike. Addressing the issues that matter most to people requires effective, responsive, and adaptable approaches that reflect the unique challenges faced by different areas.
Local Priorities
Respond to Serious Organised Crime
Ensuring organised crime groups are disrupted and cybercrime and fraud are effectively investigated.
Reduce Theft, Burglary and Robbery
Ensuring a robust response to crimes of concern to the community, including retail crime, residential burglary, vehicle crime and robbery.
Reduce Crime in Rural Areas
Building broader capacity to tackle rural, heritage and wildlife crime issues which affect the rural population.
Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour
Providing a coordinated and robust response to anti-social behaviour (ASB), including fly-tipping.
To achieve this I will:
- Work with partners to ensure a coordinated approach to tackling serious and organised crime, cybercrime and fraud.
- Advocate for increased focus on cross-border crime disruption, ensuring effective collaboration with regional and national partners.
- Convene and chair a Retail and Business Crime Reduction Partnership to develop strategies for targeted crime prevention and intelligence sharing.
- Support initiatives aimed at improving community resilience against theft, burglary, and vehicle crime.
- Maintain funding for town centre officers to ensure a visible and proactive presence that supports safe and vibrant local economies.
- Work with partners to give residents, businesses and organisations clear and practical crime prevention advice.
- Develop and implement a dedicated partnership strategy that unites all stakeholders in tackling rural, heritage, and wildlife crime.
- Provide the Rural Crime Team with the resources needed to ensure they respond effectively to rural, heritage, and wildlife crime.
- Ensure a multi-agency approach to addressing persistent ASB, with a balance of enforcement and prevention.
- Promote early intervention programmes to address root causes of anti-social behaviour.
- Respond effectively to requests for ASB case review appeals.
I will hold the Chief Constable to account for:
- Disrupting organised crime groups and tackling cross-border criminality effectively.
- Proactively identifying and addressing emerging organised crime threats.
- Ensuring sufficient capability and capacity to investigate cybercrime and fraud.
- Ensuring the Rural Crime Team delivers effective enforcement and prevention activity.
- Supporting regular engagement with rural communities to improve confidence in policing.
- Providing a consistent and robust response to persistent ASB offenders.
