Update on policing in Bassetlaw from Inspector Robert Harrison - September 2026
As part of our commitment to keeping residents informed, I wanted to share an update on the issues we are focusing on across Bassetlaw and some of the work your local Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been doing.
Current priorities in your area
Based on community feedback, partner engagement, councillor input and local crime data, our priorities for July to September were:
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Drug Supply
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Rural Crime in East Bassetlaw
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Theft of Motor Vehicles
Actions on our priorities
Tackling Drug Supply:
Drugs and organised criminality remain a top priority for me and the Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Policing Teams. The impact reaches far beyond those directly involved. Drug crime fuels violence and feuds, draws children and young people into criminality, exploits vulnerable people. It also drives anti-social behaviour in our town centres and causes immense suffering through addiction.
We are committed to tackling this issue from every angle. Enforcement is a key part of our approach, but so too are diversion, support, education and intervention. This is not a challenge that policing can solve alone. Our strong partnerships with local authorities, drug and alcohol support services, outreach teams, homelessness organisations, businesses and community groups are essential in helping us reduce harm and protect those at risk.
The public also plays a vital role. If you have information about drug dealing or criminal activity in your area, please report it. Whether through 101, our website, or anonymously via Crimestoppers, every piece of information matters. What may seem insignificant could be the intelligence needed to secure an arrest, shut down a problematic address, or safeguard someone from exploitation.
Our focus is not limited to addresses linked to drug supply. We are also actively targeting those dealing drugs on our streets. In recent months, officers have made multiple drug seizures following stop searches in Worksop, Harworth and Retford, and both uniformed and plain-clothes officers will continue this proactive activity.
Alongside enforcement, we remain committed to breaking the cycle of addiction and offending through Operation Legacy. This initiative identifies individuals entrenched in drug or alcohol misuse and works with partners to provide targeted support and intervention. Officers build relationships, manage risk and help people access the services they need to make positive changes.
The results speak for themselves. Two women who previously committed hundreds of offences each year are now engaged in rehabilitation, while several others have taken significant steps towards rebuilding their lives. These success stories rarely make headlines, but they represent some of the most important work we do: reducing crime, protecting communities and helping people create a better future for themselves.
Rural crime in East Bassetlaw:
Rural crime remained a key priority for East Bassetlaw, with officers focusing on the issues that have the greatest impact on our villages, farms and isolated communities. Working alongside specialist police teams, neighbouring forces and local partners, we have taken proactive action to tackle offending and improve safety across the area.
Our activity has included targeted patrols in rural crime hotspots, intelligence-led operations to disrupt offenders, and continued work to address issues such as off-road bikes, theft of agricultural equipment, vehicle crime, poaching, hare coursing and anti-social behaviour. Officers have also engaged directly with farmers, landowners and rural businesses to better understand local concerns and strengthen crime prevention measures.
We have worked closely with specialist teams, including Roads Policing, Road Crime and the dedicated off-road bike team, to target offenders who use the rural road network and countryside to commit crime or cause nuisance. Patrols have been carried out across forests, farmland and other rural locations following reports from members of the public, supported by both overt and covert tactics to identify those responsible.
Cross-border offending continues to be a significant challenge, which is why we have worked with neighbouring police forces to tackle criminals operating across county boundaries (Operation Star). Joint operations have targeted offences including vehicle theft, machinery theft, fuel theft, poaching and burglary, resulting in arrests, vehicle stops and disruption of criminal activity.
Community intelligence remains one of our most effective tools. Information provided by residents, farmers and landowners helps officers identify suspects, locate stolen property and target enforcement activity where it is needed most. We will continue to work with our rural communities to ensure East Bassetlaw remains a hostile environment for those who seek to commit crime in our countryside.
Vehicle Theft:
Theft of motor vehicles remains one of our key priorities this quarter and is currently the third priority area for the Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Policing Teams. In recent months, we have seen an increase in vehicle theft offences, with criminals increasingly exploiting keyless technology to target vehicles quickly and discreetly.
In the coming weeks, I will be sharing further crime prevention advice on how to keep your vehicle safe and secure. Simple measures can make a significant difference and may ultimately be the factor that prevents your vehicle from being stolen.
The impact of vehicle theft extends far beyond the financial loss of the vehicle itself. For many victims, it means losing their independence, disrupting their daily lives, preventing them from getting to work, attending appointments, caring for family members, or simply carrying out everyday activities. The consequences can be both practical and emotional, creating significant stress and disruption for those affected.
We also know that those responsible for vehicle theft are often involved in wider criminality. Many drive without licences or insurance, show little regard for public safety, and pose a serious risk to other road users. Stolen vehicles are frequently linked to further offending, making it essential that we tackle this issue robustly.
To address this, we are working closely with colleagues from the Roads Policing Unit, the Road Crime Team, intelligence teams and neighbouring police forces. By sharing information, coordinating resources and targeting offenders across force boundaries, we are strengthening our ability to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
I am pleased to report that through this collaborative approach, we have recovered multiple stolen vehicles in recent weeks and have seen a small reduction in reported offences. While this is encouraging, it is not where we want to be.
As a result, we are increasing our activity, enhancing our intelligence-led operations and focusing our efforts on identifying, arresting and prosecuting those responsible for vehicle theft. At the same time, we ask residents to remain vigilant, take steps to secure their vehicles, and report any suspicious behaviour.
Illegal Off-Road Bikes and Quads:
Few issues generate as many complaints across Bassetlaw as the illegal use of off-road bikes, quads and electric scooters. I often hear comments such as, "It's only a bit of fun," "Don't the police have better things to do?" or "Why don't the police provide somewhere for them to ride?"
The reality is very different.
The overwhelming majority of our communities despise the persistent misuse of these vehicles. What may be enjoyable for the rider often creates fear, nuisance and danger for everyone else. These vehicles are frequently ridden on roads, footpaths and public spaces where they do not belong, putting pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and families at risk.
Many are not road legal, are poorly maintained, and are ridden by individuals without licences, training, insurance or appropriate safety equipment. They are often used at excessive speeds with little regard for the consequences. Sadly, we know that serious injury and even death are very real risks. This is not harmless fun, and it is something we cannot simply accept as part of everyday life.
I understand the frustration residents feel when they see these vehicles in action and perceive that police are not intervening. However, there are important reasons why officers cannot always immediately pursue or stop riders. If police actions contribute to a collision that results in serious injury or loss of life, we carry a responsibility for those outcomes. Every decision is carefully balanced against the need to protect life and ensure public safety.
Being completely honest, this can be just as frustrating for officers as it is for the public.
That does not mean we stand by and do nothing. We use a wide range of tactics to identify offenders, seize vehicles, prosecute riders and, where necessary and proportionate, conduct pursuits based on the threat, risk and harm presented. We have seized multiple bikes from the roads, our parks and home addresses and this will not stop.
To strengthen our response, I have launched Operation Pernicious, a dedicated strategy designed to reduce incidents involving illegal bikes, quads and e-scooters across Bassetlaw.
Operation Pernicious is built around three key strands:
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Enforcement - targeting offenders, seizing vehicles, identifying riders, making arrests and pursuing prosecutions.
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Diversion - working with young people to provide positive alternatives and prevent them becoming involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour.
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Education - raising awareness of the risks, consequences and responsibilities associated with these vehicles.
This work goes far beyond policing alone. We are working closely with housing providers to tackle repeat offenders, including warning and eviction processes where appropriate. We are collaborating with social care, youth services and other partners to address the behaviours behind offending, support families and hold parents and guardians accountable where their actions contribute to illegal activity.
Our approach is clear: enforcement where necessary, intervention where possible, and prevention wherever we can.
The community plays a crucial role in helping us succeed. If you know where these vehicles are being stored, have seen them regularly coming and going from specific addresses, or know who is riding them, please tell us. Intelligence from residents is often the key factor that allows us to identify offenders, seize vehicles and take action. You can report concerns on 101, via the website or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Remembrance
As we approach Remembrance Day, I would also like to acknowledge those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. It is a privilege and honour to represent Nottinghamshire Police and lay a wreath in Worksop on Remembrance Sunday.
Keeping you informed
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a serious offence is in progress or has just been committed
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a serious disruption to the public is likely
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