16 arrests as city centre policing team tackle aggressive begging, drug dealing and shop thefts

A neighbourhood policing team have made 16 arrests this week in the city centre – including a 16-year-old caught with a knife, cocaine and heroin.

The police team – made up of uniformed and plain-clothed officers – have been dealing with business concerns including aggressive begging outside retail entrances.

They have also been targeting those who maybe going equipped to steal after a recent spate of car break-ins at St James Street car park.

Police are now regularly visiting each city centre car park and building an intelligence picture in order to catch the suspects responsible.

One of their many priorities is tackling aggressive begging outside retail units by offering support to rough sleepers and ensuring they are dealt with robustly if they continue to beg and harass customers.

From Monday 17 February to Thursday 20 February, the team have made 16 arrests for a number of offences that are blighting the city centre.

These have included those who have been recalled to prison, those who have failed to appear at court, public order offences on Clumber Street and Lower Parliament Street, drug offences, breach of a criminal behaviour order and shop thefts.

Police also caught and arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine in High Street, where he was also found in possession of a knife.

Sergeant Jono Pothecary, who manages the city centre neighbourhood team, said:

“The neighbourhood policing team is all about placing our resources where the public want us, by being visible we are able to deter and reassure. We also have been completing plain clothes patrols in order to disrupt and apprehend those committing offences.

“We have listened to our business community and one of their biggest concerns is those begging outside their retail entrances.

“By continuously engaging with those causing these problems, we hope to break the cycle of offending and offer a wraparound support service by ensuring those in need are directed towards support services.

“However, if individuals continue to cause problems for businesses and the public, we will use all the powers at our disposal including Criminal Behaviour Orders, which can see them banned from parts of the city or the entire city centre.

“We are also regularly patrolling car parks following a recent spate of car break-ins where items such as wallets and shades have been stolen.

“We are monitoring this situation closely and developing our intelligence picture in order to catch those responsible.

“One of our other priorities is targeting those who deal drugs in our city centre.

“This week, we arrested a boy on suspicion of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine as well as possession of a knife.

“Anyone who brings drugs and weapons into our city centre will be dealt with as this result shows.

“We will continue to offer a high-visibility and plain-clothed presence in the city centre to keep the public safe and make Nottingham a desirable place to visit.”