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.
Last week officers patrolled the area and a number of persons were dealt with for drug offences. We are working on closure orders for the addresses involved.

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

Shoplifting remains an ever present issue within the Town Centre with continuous ongoing work to tackle the offending. The neighbourhood team have recently achieved a number of successful prosecutions which are often highlighted on social media. Diversionary work continues in a bid to prevent re-offending and the team continues to liaise directly with partner agencies in an attempt to reduce the demand from persistent offenders.

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.
Funding has been approved to enable further patrols at the key times.
Community protection warning notices have been issued to a number of individuals involved in the behaviour.