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A neighbourhood inspector has promised his team won’t rest on their laurels following a continued drop in crime across the City North.
Reducing drug offending, theft and antisocial behaviour (ASB) have been priorities for the area’s neighbourhood policing team for some time now.
Inspector Paul Ferguson targeted these offences – and other crimes based on acquiring property – when he first took over the role in September 2022.
Two years down the line and crime has fallen across each of these areas in the City North, which covers Bestwood, Sherwood, Bulwell, and Bulwell Forest.
Drug offence reports have dropped by 15 per cent and ASB has reduced by 24 per cent, when comparing April to September this year with the same period in 2023.
So-called ‘acquisitive crimes’ like shoplifting, burglary and vehicle thefts have also gone down by three per cent, seven per cent and 25 per cent respectively, while overall crime has dropped by 11 per cent.
Neighbourhood officers are also achieving a higher proportion of positive outcomes when investigating reports of this nature than they did 12 months ago.
That means more crime reports leading to suspects being arrested or charged, with action then taken – something Inspector Ferguson said he was pleased about.
“Seeing police investigate offences and then take action can have a huge impact towards improving public confidence and encouraging people to report crime,” said the city north district commander.
“This can only be a good thing, while putting suspects before the courts to potentially receive custodial sentences and criminal behaviour orders (CBOs) sends a strong message to criminals too.
“To use shoplifting as an example, being able to secure a CBO that bans an offender from going to certain areas and which puts them at risk of going to prison if they do, is hugely beneficial for communities.
“It’s obviously positive to see reported crime figures moving in the right direction, but we’re thoroughly aware that this could change at any time.
“Bearing this in mind, I want the public to know we’re committed to not letting our guard down and will continue doing everything in our power to try and ensure this drop in crime is maintained.”
Nine CBOs have been issued to prolific offenders over the last 12 months following action from the City North team, while several applications are currently being prepared for other suspects too.
This includes suspects Bobby Lunt, of Lathkill Close, Bulwell, and Clare Turner, of Kersall Drive, Bulwell, who were recently charged with a robbery in Bulwell on 6 August.
Lunt, 40, and Turner, 38, have also been charged with a series of local shop theft offences and are next due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on 21 October.
Positive outcomes following shoplifting reports have risen by 36 per cent in City North, when comparing April to September this year with the same period in 2023.
Action has also been taken in 33 per cent more theft cases, while a positive police outcome has followed a reported drugs offence 17 per cent more often than before.
One recent success story saw neighbourhood officers from Sherwood and Bulwell work in tandem to uncover and raid a property that was being used to house a cannabis grow.
More than 120 plants were seized from the property in Rushcliffe Rise, Sherwood, on 19 September, while grower Arnold Elezi was found hiding in the loft.
The 29-year-old, of no fixed address, has since pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis, and is due to be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court this Friday (11 October).
As well as planning and executing drug warrants, the City North team also conducts regular targeted operations, including ones designed to counteract criminals involved in retail crime.
Visible patrols also take place in areas where nuisance behaviour is typically reported, in a bid to deter ASB and catch offenders in the act – with a particular focus on stopping those involved in off-road biking.
Inspector Ferguson added: “Our neighbourhood teams in Bestwood, Bulwell and Sherwood are involved in so much work each day to fight crime, and that’s not going to change.
“Whether it’s through intelligence-led warrants, targeted operations and days of action, or our daily patrols in the community, our officers are always doing something.
“That includes being out and about providing that visible presence on the streets to engage with members of the public and hopefully make people think twice before causing any trouble.
“All of this contributes towards bringing that crime rate down and improving confidence in the police, to ensure people don’t hesitate in reporting something to us if it doesn’t seem right, and help us hopefully achieve a positive outcome.”