City police target shoplifters and ASB with joint op

Nottingham’s neighbourhood officers have teamed up to target shoplifting and antisocial behaviour (ASB).

Several of the city’s Neighbourhood Policing teams took part in a joint operation designed to tackle these issues in their areas.

A mixture of uniformed and plain clothed officers patrolled different parts of Sherwood, Radford, Gedling and Nottingham city centre on Thursday (30 November).

Shoplifting, begging and other types of ASB were the focus of the action, with police providing a visible presence on the high streets to try and prevent these offences from happening.

As part of the operation, officers were granted dispersal powers to move on anyone suspected of being involved in ASB, while they also engaged with shopworkers and the public to provide some reassurance.

While carrying out the simultaneous patrols, police managed to spot two suspects that intelligence suggested were outstanding for separate offences.

Sherwood officers detained a 35-year-old man on suspicion of failing to appear at court after stopping him in Mansfield Road, with the suspect then being additionally arrested for criminal damage.

During their patrols of the Sherwood area, the team also managed to recover stolen makeup products and dispose of used needles they’d discovered.

Across town, the City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team arrested a 45-year-old suspect in connection with a reported robbery in Nottingham city centre from back in September. 

The op represented the first of its kind, with the Sherwood, City Centre, City Central, Gedling and St Ann’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams all taking part in the afternoon.

Chief Inspector Chris Pearson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“There’s usually a substantial rise in shop thefts, begging and other ASB in the lead up the Christmas period, which is why this operation took place when it did.

“As a force we treat all reports of these types of offences extremely seriously because we completely understand how much of an impact they can have on communities.

“Several of our Neighbourhood Policing teams from across Nottingham city were involved in this day of action, which represented the first time we’ve done anything like this before.

“By getting out in the community and carrying out these foot patrols, our officers were able to provide a visible presence and crime deterrent, provide some reassurance to the public, and make two arrests too.

“Community engagement was at the heart of this action, so it’s pleasing to see we’ve received some good feedback about this operation.

“This was a real team effort and wouldn’t have been possible without all the teams buying in, but I’d particularly like to commend PC Bhavuk Sharma and Sergeant Nazia Kauser, who led and supervised this operation, respectively.”