Kentwood and Tilehurst

A key issue within the Tilehurst area has been the increase in acquisitive crime, particularly incidents of shoplifting and robbery occurring in and around the Triangle shopping area, including retail premises such as Waitrose on Oxford Road. These offences have had a direct impact on local businesses, their staff, and the wider community, resulting in financial losses, repeat victimisation, and increased concern regarding criminality in and around the local area.

In response to rising levels of shoplifting, the local Neighbourhood Team have worked in partnership with the Retail Crime Team to deliver targeted plain-clothes operations focused on prolific offenders and identified retail crime hotspots. The operations have successfully disrupted offending, developed intelligence, identified suspects, and provided reassurance to local businesses and the public. As a result, numerous offenders have been arrested and brought before the courts, leading to a number of positive outcomes, including convictions, community orders, and custodial sentences where appropriate. We continue to work with shops and deal positively with any offending.

Ongoing ASB, drug-related activity, abandoned tents, and abandoned vehicles in and around McIlory Park are causing significant concerns for residents and affecting the safety and appearance of the area.

NHPT has conducted both high-visibility and plain-clothed operations in and around McIlory Park to tackle ASB, drug-related activity, abandoned tents, and vehicles. This has enabled enforcement activity, intelligence gathering, community reassurance, and partnership working to address the ongoing issues.

Residents have reported an increase in suspected drug dealing and drug use in and around Strathy Close particularly within the alleyways and play areas. The activity is causing growing concern within the local community due to its impact on public safety, perceptions of crime, and anti-social behaviour.

The local NHPT is working with residents to gather intelligence relating to suspected drug dealing and drug use around the Dee Park estate. Regular high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols are being conducted in hotspot areas, with officers using Stop and Search powers where lawful grounds exist. Intelligence gathered will be used to identify and disrupt those involved, provide reassurance to the community, and reduce drug-related offending in the area. We are issuing closure orders on some of the addresses involved.