Abbey and Battle

Drugs being dealt – areas of interest Battle Square, Kensington Road and Chester Street. This has lead to groups of drug users hanging around and associated ASB.
Drug dealing has also been reported on Alma street and Bridgewater close.

Plain clothed operations have been conducted within the priority areas using specialist departments. Individuals have been identified and ongoing work is going to be completed with closure orders being considered.
We are looking in to further CCTV and have increased patrols in the West Village area.

Retail shops in Reading Town Centre are targeted frequently by drug addicts who shoplift to support their habit.

a number of shoplifters have been arrested over the last few weeks and charged with theft offences. This is a continuous work in progress. The team continue to target the area focusing on the offenders who present the biggest risk to the stores through violence or the number of offences committed. We have funding to work with drug users to treat the root cause of the problem which should have an impact on the level of their offending.

Sex workers loiter on Western Elms Avenue throughout the evening and into the night, waiting for customers. This is noisy and increases ASB and litter in the area.

Ops continue to be run monthly to target the males who use sex workers and a number of CPWs have been issued and arrests made.
We are also working with the council and support agencies to address the underlying causes of the issue.