Chesham

Findings from our recent Neighbourhood Policing Priorities Survey have identified drug-related activity as a key concern among residents in Chesham and Missenden. This feedback highlights the impact that issues such as drug use, supply, and associated Anti-Social behaviour are having on the local community.

Residents continue to tell us that tackling drug-related harm remains a key priority for the community. Many recognise the strong links between drug activity, anti-social behaviour, exploitation, and other forms of criminality that can have a significant impact on local neighbourhoods. In response, the Neighbourhood Team is using this feedback to shape local policing activity, ensuring that patrols, engagement, intelligence gathering, and enforcement are focused on the issues that matter most to residents.

Information provided by the public plays a vital role in this work. Reports concerning locations, vehicles, and individuals suspected of being involved in drug-related activity help officers build intelligence, direct patrols to hotspot areas, disrupt associated anti-social behaviour, and take action against those involved in the supply of illegal drugs.

Officers continue to carry out regular patrols in areas identified through both community concerns and police intelligence. This activity has supported the development of intelligence packages and applications for search warrants. While some incidents involving simple possession can be dealt with relatively quickly, other investigations are far more complex and require consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service. In some cases, officers also identify concerns relating to exploitation, county lines activity, modern slavery, or vulnerable individuals, which require additional investigation and safeguarding measures.

In recent months, several warrants have been executed across Chesham, leading to arrests for offences including the possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs. These investigations are often lengthy and resource-intensive, requiring the examination of mobile phones and digital devices, forensic analysis, and financial enquiries under the Proceeds of Crime Act to identify and disrupt criminal gain.

Where officers have reasonable grounds to suspect a person is in possession of controlled drugs, stop and search powers may be used. During a recent operation, officers followed a vehicle, engaged with its occupants, and developed sufficient grounds through their observations and enquiries to conduct further action. This resulted in the arrest of an individual on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs.

The Neighbourhood Team also works closely with partner agencies, including housing providers and local authorities, particularly where drug misuse is affecting residential communities. This partnership approach has resulted in a range of positive outcomes, including tenancy enforcement action, formal warnings and criminal prosecutions. By working together, we continue to reduce harm, protect vulnerable people, and make our communities safer.

If you have any information please report on 101 or online at www. thamesvalley.police.uk.

Call 999 if crime in progress or you are at risk of harm.

Our recent Neighbourhood Policing Priorities Survey identified speeding as the second‑highest concern for residents across Amersham, Chesham and the Missendens. In Chesham, this remains a key priority for the neighbourhood team, and we are committed to addressing it through regular patrols, community engagement and targeted enforcement.

The Neighbourhood Team continues to carry out regular speed enforcement operations across the area using roadside speed detection equipment. Drivers found exceeding the speed limit may be issued with fixed penalty notices, and the visible presence of officers often acts as a deterrent, encouraging motorists to slow down and drive more safely. While road traffic enforcement remains primarily the responsibility of the Roads Policing Unit, the Neighbourhood Team continues to support these efforts through planned enforcement days and targeted operations.

Recently, officers conducted speed enforcement activity on Lye Green Road, Chartridge Lane, St Mary's Way and Botley. A number of drivers were dealt with for speeding offences, with tickets issued and some motorists reported for summons due to excessive speeds.

Tackling speeding effectively requires a collective effort. Changing driver behaviour and attitudes takes time, and we continue to work closely with local partners and the community to make speeding socially unacceptable. Volunteers are always welcome to join Community Speed Watch in the Chesham area. If you are interested in getting involved, please visit www.communityspeedwatch.org for further information.

We are also aware that speeding concerns are often linked to anti-social driving, including excessive vehicle noise and reckless driving, particularly during late-night hours in Chesham and the Missendens. These incidents can have a significant impact on local residents. Where clear footage and vehicle registration details are provided, officers can issue Section 59 warnings, allowing for more robust enforcement action should the behaviour continue. We encourage residents to report incidents directly to the police rather than relying solely on social media.

Chesham officers continue to take proactive action against a range of traffic-related offences, including uninsured driving. Appropriate enforcement action is taken whenever offences are identified, and the team regularly responds to reports of dangerous, careless and inconsiderate driving across the area.

Officers also continue to tackle antisocial driving. In recent months, several vehicles have been stopped due to poor driving standards, with some subsequently seized after drivers were found to be driving without a valid licence. These actions help improve road safety and protect all road users.

While not directly related to speeding, residents may have noticed DVLA enforcement officers working alongside neighbourhood policing teams in Chesham and Amersham. These joint operations focus on identifying untaxed vehicles, improving road safety and dealing with abandoned or non-compliant vehicles. During a recent day of action on 28 July, officers and DVLA staff clamped 40 vehicles and seized a further 12 vehicles.

Together, these proactive enforcement activities help make our roads safer and address the concerns most frequently raised by our communities

If you have any information or concerns, please report via 101 or online at www.thamesvalley.police.uk.

Always call 999 if a crime is in progress or if there is an immediate risk of harm.

Our recent Neighbourhood Priorities Survey revealed that the majority of Chesham residents consider anti‑social behaviour to be one of the key issues they want their local neighbourhood team to address. In response, we continue to carry out targeted activity across the area to reduce and prevent anti‑social behaviour. This remains a standing priority for the team.

The Neighbourhood Team dedicates a significant amount of time to supporting residents with a wide range of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) concerns across the community. In Chesham, these can include ongoing noise nuisance, neighbour disputes, reports of cannabis use or related smells, littering, criminal damage, harassment, and hate-related incidents. Whatever the nature of the issue, officers aim to engage with all parties involved, understand the circumstances, and work towards a fair, proportionate and lasting resolution.

A large proportion of reported incidents are categorised as personal ASB, often involving disputes between neighbours or individuals that have escalated over time. In many cases, the Neighbourhood Team takes the lead in managing these matters, working closely with those affected to assess risk, provide advice, and, where appropriate, utilise formal interventions or support from partner agencies to achieve longer-term solutions.

Where Anti-Social Behaviour crosses the threshold into criminality, neighbourhood officers carry out full investigations. Some incidents can be resolved quickly through early intervention, words of advice, or low-level enforcement. Others are more complex and require sustained engagement, evidence gathering and partnership working. Recently, the Chesham Team has made arrests in connection with persistent, targeted anti-social behaviour amounting to harassment. In these cases, attempts to resolve matters through agreements and formal warnings were unsuccessful, resulting in escalation to arrest and potential prosecution.

The team remains committed to seeing these investigations through and ensuring victims feel supported throughout the process.

Where individuals responsible for ongoing ASB are identified, officers will take firm, fair and proportionate action. This may include warning letters, Acceptable Behaviour Agreements (ABAs), Community Protection Warnings, or the use of stronger enforcement powers where appropriate. Our focus remains on preventing further incidents, safeguarding those affected, and maintaining a safe environment for everyone in the community.

Chesham continues to be one of the busier areas for Anti-Social Behaviour within the wider policing area, alongside High Wycombe and Aylesbury. Officers regularly conduct Safer Streets patrols in the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods, using a live-tracking system to ensure resources are directed to locations experiencing the greatest demand and community concern.

During July alone, officers recorded 91 Safer Streets patrols in Chesham. This figure reflects patrols logged by officers and does not include those that were undertaken but not recorded within the Neighbourhood Policing application. In addition, officers carried out a further 69 patrols through the Hotspot Policing programme, targeting areas identified through crime and incident data.

We are aware that some local car parks continue to attract groups whose behaviour can lead to disturbances, anti-social activity and littering. These locations have been long-standing areas of concern; however, since Buckinghamshire Council installed additional CCTV coverage, reports of issues have reduced noticeably. We continue to work closely with the Council, which regularly reviews CCTV footage where offences are reported or identified.

We also recognise ongoing concerns about vehicles racing and driving anti-socially during late-night and early morning hours. Residents are encouraged to report these incidents directly to the police, particularly where vehicle registration details, descriptions, or footage can be provided. This information allows officers to take targeted action against those responsible. Reporting incidents directly to the police, rather than solely sharing them on social media, ensures concerns are properly recorded, intelligence is gathered, and appropriate enforcement action can be considered.

By working closely with residents, partner agencies and local organisations, the Neighbourhood Team remains committed to tackling Anti-Social Behaviour, supporting victims, and making Chesham a safer place for

If you have any information please report on 101 or online at www. thamesvalley.police.uk.
Call 999 if crime in progress or you are at risk of harm.