City Centre

April - June 2026:

Knife Crime in Nottingham City Centre.

The priorities for the City Centre Neighbourhood team is reviewed every 3 months in a Multi-Agency meeting attended by the Principle City Council Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, Senior Community Protection officers, Licensing Team officers and police representatives from Integrated Offender Management, Problem Solving officers and Neighbourhoods.

The meeting looks at the data from crime recording and intelligence systems held by the police, as well as data from the Nottinghamshire Police Crime Commissioners Office and responses to the ‘What Matters’ survey submitted to the police via the Notts Alert system, in order to determine which matters are important to our communities.

The priorities selected do not detract from other priorities either locally or across the force.

Knife Crime in the City Centre has been chosen as a priority for this period due to a small number of knife related offences in the City Centre which have caused a reduction in feelings of safety and an increase in fear of crime.

We employ a multi-agency approach to tackle knife crime, working with public, private, and third sectors.

Communications and engagement activities support evidence-based approaches to reduce knife crime incidents and we focus on highlighting the dangers of carrying knives, enhancing public confidence, and reassuring the community. Improved training and education initiatives are in place, alongside disruption tactics such as Stop and Search.

Continued funding from the Home Office Grip and Violence Reduction Programme (VRP) ensures the capability and capacity to drive performance and reduce public risk through our officers carrying out high visibility patrols in key hotspot areas at key times to detect and deter knife related offending.

Nottinghamshire Police’s clear plan around tackling knife crime has been recognised nationally for best practice. Furthermore, it strongly focuses on the PCC’s ‘Safer Nottinghamshire for All’ undertaking, whilst putting communities and victims first, which strengthens partnership working and implements effective and resilient policing.

The increase in knife possession offences is attributed to proactive policing, with data showing that proactive local policing and collaboration with third-sector partners have led to more arrests and the removal of weapons from the streets. This proactive stance is crucial in deterring potential offenders and ensuring community safety. The use of intelligence-led policing and targeted operations has been instrumental in achieving these results.

Changes to the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 are expected to impact offence numbers. These changes include the prohibition of zombie knives, zombie-style weapons, and ninja swords. The introduction of these legislative measures aims to reduce the availability of dangerous weapons and enhance public safety. The anticipated increase in recorded offences following these changes is a temporary effect of the initial enforcement phase.

Between January 2023 and 2024 serious violence including wounding/ endangering life has dropped by 13.5%, assault with injury by 7.8%, homicide by 80%, and robbery by 14.1%. The profile remains a constant picture as there are strong links with organised crime groups (OCGs), urban street gangs (USGs), drugs, knife-enabled robbery, and knife crime.

Analysis shows links between unemployment, deprivation, and violent crime (which may worsen because of the cost-of-living crisis) and an increase in the number of young people who have been involved in knife related incidents. However, the data suggests that Nottinghamshire is trending in a positive direction. It should be noted that whilst many local authorities and partners are facing financial challenges, the serious violence duty as well as the violence reduction partnership are key enablers to ensure strong partnership working in this area.

PLEASE NOTE: This priority continues from the previous quarter and ask such, the March update is also shown in the actions section.

MARCH UPDATE:

We have continued to deploy our Knife Crime Team in the City Centre over the month of March to look to proactively deter and detect knife related offending. Knife crime is often linked with drug dealing. This month our Knife Crime Team have arrested 3 persons in the City Centre following a vehicle stop and recovered £50,000.00 worth of Class A and B drugs as well as £25,000.00 in cash.

All arrests within the City Centre for knife possession this month have been as a result of proactivity and stop search – six persons have been charged for possession of weapons.

According to rolling 12 month figures, the City Centre has seen an 10.3% decrease in knife possession offences. There has also been a 29% decrease in under 25s hospital admissions in Nottinghamshire in 2025-2026 versus 2024-2025.

There have been no serious violence incidents in the City Centre in March and the City Centre is showing a 5.8% reduction in serious violence offences in a rolling 12 month period.

The positive detection rate in the City Centre for possession of weapon offences is currently 59.4%.

APRIL UPDATE:

In May, we are launching Op Reclaim for Nottingham City Centre. This is a Clear, Hold, Build initiative looking to target the areas of concern for those living, working in and visiting the City Centre. One of the areas of focus under this operation, is knife crime. May also see’s the National Sceptre Week of Intensification whereby all forces nationally undertake a highlighted week of action (18th – 24th May) with regards to activities related to knife crime under the categories of prevention, protection, preparation and pursuing.

For April, the City Centre saw a reduction in knife enabled offending and an increase in knife possession offences. This can be put down to the proactivity of our knife crime team with all possession offences being the result of proactive stop searches.

Year on year, the City Centre is showing a 10% decrease in knife possession offences and our positive detection rate for possession offences is 62.6% in a rolling 12 month period (versus 55.4% in the previous 12 month rolling period).

Moreover, figures for violence with and without injury in the City Centre involving a knife (whether this is threatened or seen or not) have both reduced by over 30%.

MAY UPDATE:

Currently, our positive detection rate for weapons possession in a rolling 12 month period within the City Centre is 61.7% (versus 55% in a rolling 12 month period at this point last year). On the whole, possession of weapon offences within the City Centre are slightly down (-1.36%).

In May, our knife crime team have worked in conjunction with the local neighbourhood policing team and priority tasking team to run several high visibility and plain clothes operations. Results of this include:

•Arrests of persons for possession with intent to supply and possession of a machete on Clumber Street - www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/news/nottinghamshire/news/news/2026/june/operation-reclaim-two-arrests-after-machete-and-drugs-seized-during-anti-social-behaviour-reports-in-clumber-street/
•An arrest on Market Street for possession with intent to supply and possession of a knife - www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/news/nottinghamshire/news/news/2026/may/op-reclaim-man-charged-with-possession-of-knife-and-drugs/
•A test purchase operation under Sceptre Knife Crime Week of Intensification which saw numerous businesses around the City and City conurbation areas and thankfully only one failure (which is a marked improvement on last years test purchase). The investigation regarding the failing business remains open at this time.
•A male arrested on Maid Marian Way in possession of a lock knife and a rucksack containing over 100 deals of Cannabis a possession with intent to supply amount of Cocaine. The male was charged and remanded to Court whereby he was remanded to prison.
•Two males arrested on the Canal Path attempting to discard bundles of drugs and a machete.
•Two males subject to a vehicle stop on London Road found in possession of knives. Both charged.

We would really like to hear from those who live in, work in and visit Nottingham City Centre regarding what matters most to you – please take a couple of minutes to fill out of survey regarding what we should focus on – https://survey.nottsalerts.co.uk/Survey/REGISTRATION/F0226D71AEFFDB4B99228547846E068A

April - June 2026 Priority:

Retail Theft in the City Centre

The priorities for the City Centre Neighbourhood team is reviewed every 3 months in a Multi-Agency meeting attended by the Principle City Council Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, Senior Community Protection officers, Licensing Team officers and police representatives from Integrated Offender Management, Problem Solving officers and Neighbourhoods.

The meeting looks at the data from crime recording and intelligence systems held by the police, as well as data from the Nottinghamshire Police Crime Commissioners Office and responses to the ‘What Matters’ survey submitted to the police via the Notts Alert system, in order to determine which matters are important to our communities.

The priorities selected do not detract from other priorities either locally or across the force.

Retail theft has been chosen as one of the local policing priorities for the City Centre due to this being the highest crime type for the City. There are also links from prolific offender shop lifters with general anti-social behaviour, drug use and dealing etc.

As well as retail theft / shoplifting, we are seeing an increase in business robbery recording (due to a change in crime recording standards) whereby business staff are being threatened or assaulted by offenders. This is unacceptable. Nottinghamshire Police support the #ShopKind initiative from the National Business Crime Centre. It is backed by the Home Office and supported by major high street retailers as well as the nation’s independent shopkeepers, and the shopworkers union Usdaw.

The aim of the campaign is to encourage positive behaviours in shops, acknowledge the important role of shopworkers and raise awareness about the scale and impact of violence and abuse against shopworkers.

Our officers will look to deal robustly with any offenders who have committed business robberies or assaulted shopworkers.

PLEASE NOTE: This priority continues from the previous quarter and ask such, the March update is also shown in the actions section.

In relation to retail crime we continue systematically targeting those repeat offenders who cause the most harm, ensuring they are quickly brought to justice and seeking additional orders (such as Criminal Behaviour Orders) to reduce the risk of their offending.

We also liaise with partner agencies and businesses to look at all available options to deal with offenders and assist with target hardening and problem solving.

We want to emphasis collaboration with retailers and encourage businesses to report shoplifting incidents through streamlined mechanisms (such as via SingleOnlineHome and being able to send CCTV over an online link etc.) which also assists is with a better understanding of crime trends to be able to adequately target repeat offenders, prolific offenders, hotspot locations etc.

We also work with the MLB officers from ItsInNottingham and are able to share two way information with them regarding offending.

MARCH UPDATE:

We have this month dedicated two of our Neighbourhood Policing Team to dealing with retail crime full time – these are PCs Dyer and Yates. Retail crime is the largest crime type for Nottingham City Centre and a great deal of the offenders are repeat offenders and also cause other issues in the City Centre with regards to anti-social behaviour and street offences. As such, PCs Dyer and Yates are able to concentrate further on these prolific offenders and look at Criminal Behaviour Order applications and obtaining the best evidence. They are also able to better serve of business community.

Our current positive detection rate for the City Centre is 30.5% for all shop thefts reported. We are still showing a slight decrease in shop theft in March (from 208 offences in February to 188 in March) and officers continue to work hard to prosecute those offending.

APRIL UPDATE:

In May, we are launching Op Reclaim for Nottingham City Centre. This is a Clear, Hold, Build initiative looking to target the areas of concern for those living, working in and visiting the City Centre. One of the areas of focus under this operation, is retail crime.

We will be working with partners in the BID (ItsInNottigham), My Local Bobby, Nottingham City Council and other partners from support services and third sectors to look to further tackle the issues and root causes of offending as well as looking at target hardening and the onwards sale of stolen goods.

This month, officers from the City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team have had the following results of note this month:

•Male arrested and charged for three high value thefts (totalling £2,533.58) as well as possession of a Class B drug. He was remanded by the courts until sentencing.
•Officers have also dealt with a prolific female offender whom they charged with five thefts totalling £520.81. Her court hearing is to be held on 14/05/2026.
•Another prolific offender was arrested for theft from EE Victoria Centre. A pair of headphones were stolen. A 4-month prison was given.
•Prolific female offender arrested for theft from FOPP and found in possession of a Class A drug. Community Order and Drug Rehabilitation Requirement.
•Another prolific female offender, subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order, arrested for theft from Sainsbury’s. Charged and pleaded guilty. Sentencing on 28/05/2026.
•Charlotte JONES was given a Criminal Behaviour Order, banning her from Hotel Chocolat for two years. Since this, she has again been dealt with for 4 shop thefts, given a four week prison sentence and had further stores (Waterstones and Bargain Buys) added to her Criminal Behaviour Order as places she is banned from attending.
•Officers have issued 15 persons have been issued with CPN’s/CPNW’s ranging from begging, anti social behaviour and drug use.

The City Centre has a positive outcome rate for shop theft offences of 37.77 % positive outcome rate for the period 01/01/2026-31/03/2026 compared to 31.42% for the same period last year.

Officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Teams continue to undertake Lets Talk events from local businesses as well as holding regular retail crime workshops.

MAY UPDATE:

In May there was a 29% reduction in shop theft offences within the City Centre (as compared to April 2026). Our positive outcome rate for all shop thefts is 33% (last year it was 26%).

We have seen some excellent results in May including prolific offender Natalie Sawyer being arrested and returned to prison for a 12 week sentence and another prolific offender, Hazel McPhee being given a 40 week prison sentence and Criminal Behaviour Order following repeated offending in the City Centre.

We held a retail crime meeting with local businesses. The Let’s Talk event, held at Waterstones in Bridlesmith Gate, provided a networking opportunity for retailers, who could engage directly with local neighbourhood officers to improve partnership working, to help reduce and deter retail crime, and raise any concerns. During the session, business representatives heard the city centre recorded a 37.77% positive outcome rate for the period covering January to March this year, up from 31.42% for the same period last year. Representatives such as Primark, M&S, Superdrug, Tesco, Fopp, Boots, Zara, Barclays and One Beyond were all in attendance at the Let’s Talk event. Nottingham’s business improvement district - It’s in Nottingham - and security officers from its My Local Bobby scheme also supported the two-hour session. Six discussion tables were staged, allowing attendees to rotate, ask questions and engage directly with partners on specific topics relating to retail crime.

Our Trading Standards PC (along with the Trading Standards Team) also sought and obtained a closure order for Vape Zone in Upper Parliament Street due to the sale of illicit and potentially dangerous goods. Officers also undertook a test purchase operation whereby seven out of nine businesses tested failed an underage vape test purchase operation. The operation targeted retailers suspected of selling nicotine inhaling products, including vapes, to children. Supervised underage volunteers visited nine premises across Nottingham and were able to purchase nicotine inhaling products from seven of them without being challenged for proof of age. The businesses that failed the operation are now subject to further investigation and may face formal action, including prosecution and further compliance checks.

April - June 2026:

Drug Dealing in the City Centre.

The priorities for the City Centre Neighbourhood team is reviewed every 3 months in a Multi-Agency meeting attended by the Principle City Council Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, Senior Community Protection officers, Licensing Team officers and police representatives from Integrated Offender Management, Problem Solving officers and Neighbourhoods.

The meeting looks at the data from crime recording and intelligence systems held by the police, as well as data from the Nottinghamshire Police Crime Commissioners Office and responses to the ‘What Matters’ survey submitted to the police via the Notts Alert system, in order to determine which matters are important to our communities.

The priorities selected do not detract from other priorities either locally or across the force.

Drug dealing has been chosen as a priority due to its links to knife crime (another of our priorities) as well as links to other offending in the City Centre (violence, shop theft to fund drug use, homelessness, ASB etc.) and based on ongoing efforts to improve persons feelings of safety when living and working in as well as visiting the City Centre.

Please Note: This priority roles over from last quarter and as such the March 2026 update is shown in the actions section.

MARCH UPDATE:

Our positive outcome rate for drug possession offences in the City Centre currently sits at 74.9% and 58.4% for drug trafficking offences (it should be noted that a lot of these investigations are still open with no outcome as yet as they are still actively under investigation).

Possession offences are showing a 7.1% reduction in a rolling 12 month period and trafficking offences an 1.1% increase. This shows that, whilst arrests for drug dealing have fallen slightly, it is due to less persons openly dealing in the City Centre as they are aware officers are proactively stop searching and monitoring activity in both plain clothes and high visibility uniform. For example, officers have proactively arrested five persons this month for dealing following either CCTV noting activity or as a result of proactive patrols and stop searches.

APRIL UPDATE:

In May, we are launching Op Reclaim for Nottingham City Centre. This is a Clear, Hold, Build initiative looking to target the areas of concern for those living, working in and visiting the City Centre. One of the areas of focus under this operation, is drug dealing.

Currently, our positive detection rate for drug related offences is 72.5% in a rolling 12 month period (which is up from 70.9% in the previous 12 month rolling period). In that same period, drug possession offences are down by 8.25% and drug dealing offences are up by 6.82%. This shows that officers are more accurately targeting those actively dealing within our City Centre.

Moreover, the possession offences are down 70.66% versus our baseline comparison year (2019/2020) showing a sustained decrease in the City Centre.

In April 2026, 29 persons were dealt with for possession offences and 8 persons for possession with intent to supply offences within the City Centre.

MAY UPDATE:

Currently, our positive detection rate for drug possession offences is 72.7% in a rolling 12 month period. In that same period, drug possession offences are down by 10.93% and drug dealing offences are up by 4.35%.

In May we have seen a great deal of activity in relation to drug dealing operations within the City Centre. This includes:

•Arrests of persons for possession with intent to supply and possession of a machete on Clumber Street - www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/news/nottinghamshire/news/news/2026/june/operation-reclaim-two-arrests-after-machete-and-drugs-seized-during-anti-social-behaviour-reports-in-clumber-street/
•Arrests of two persons for possession with intent to supply on North Sherwood Street (as well as the seizure of several illegal e-bikes) - www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/news/nottinghamshire/news/news/2026/june/operation-reclaim-police-tackle-north-sherwood-street-drug-dealers-peddling-mamba-on-the-city-streets/
•Further arrests on Glasshouse Street and North Sherwood Street - www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/news/nottinghamshire/news/news/2026/may/operation-reclaim-hundreds-of-drug-wraps-seized-following-city-patrols/
•An arrest for possession with intent to supply following a day of action on Sneinton Market - www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/news/nottinghamshire/news/news/2026/may/operation-reclaim-suspected-dealer-arrested-with-50-wraps-of-heroin-in-sneinton-market-patrol/
•An arrest on Market Street for possession with intent to supply and possession of a knife - www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/news/nottinghamshire/news/news/2026/may/op-reclaim-man-charged-with-possession-of-knife-and-drugs/

And many other arrests and proactive patrols of the City Centre regarding the issue of drug dealing.

We would really like to hear from those who live in, work in and visit Nottingham City Centre regarding what matters most to you – please take a couple of minutes to fill out of survey regarding what we should focus on – https://survey.nottsalerts.co.uk/Survey/REGISTRATION/F0226D71AEFFDB4B99228547846E068A