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 one of the 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 Policing Team conducts routine speed enforcement and monitoring throughout the area using roadside speed detection devices. These operations are aimed at discouraging speeding and improving road safety. Motorists detected travelling above the speed limit may be subject to enforcement action, while the presence of officers often has a positive effect on reducing vehicle speeds.

Although speed enforcement activity tends to reduce during the winter period, patrols and dedicated operations increase during the spring and summer months, with a number of targeted enforcement days completed. It is also reassuring to have recent updates from our roads policing units that they have spend a considerable amount of time in Chesham dealing with road related offences

Addressing speeding concerns requires long-term partnership working. Influencing driver behaviour and promoting safer attitudes on the roads cannot be achieved through enforcement alone. We work alongside partner organisations and local communities to raise awareness and challenge unacceptable driving habits.

Speaking with the Community Speed Watch Coordinator, he confirmed that volunteer activity remains strong, with several groups carrying out regular speed monitoring and awareness sessions throughout the area.

A number of active groups operate within local communities, including Ley Hill, Ashley Green, Lye Green, Ashridge and Latimer. Collectively, these groups dedicate a significant amount of time to encouraging compliance with speed limits and raising awareness of road safety concerns. Due to the number of separate groups involved, it is difficult to provide an overall total of deployments across the entire Chesham area. However, the level of activity remains consistently high.

Particular recognition should be given to the Latimer Community Speed Watch group, which has carried out 58 deployment sessions since the beginning of the year. This represents a substantial commitment from local volunteers and demonstrates the positive role that communities can play in addressing speeding concerns and helping to make our roads safer for everyone.

We would like to thank all Community Speed Watch volunteers for their ongoing support and dedication.. Further details can be found at www.communityspeedwatch.org.

Residents frequently report that speeding is associated with wider Anti-Social driving issues, including excessive vehicle noise, aggressive driving, and dangerous manoeuvres, particularly during the evening and night time hours. Such behaviour can have a considerable impact on the quality of life of those living nearby. Where sufficient evidence is available, such as video recordings and vehicle registration details, officers can issue Section 59 warnings, allowing further action to be taken should the behaviour continue. We encourage members of the public to report these incidents directly to the police, rather than relying solely on social media to highlight concerns.

Neighbourhood officers regularly deal with a variety of road traffic offences across the local area, including uninsured driving, and take appropriate enforcement action where offences are identified. The team also responds to reports of careless, inconsiderate, and dangerous driving, carrying out investigations and enforcement where required.

Proactive work to address Anti-Social vehicle use remains an important part of neighbourhood policing. Over recent months, officers have stopped a number of vehicles due to concerns around the standard of driving, and in several cases vehicles have been seized after drivers were found not to hold a valid driving licence. These measures help improve road safety and reduce harmful driving behaviour within 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.

Supporting residents affected by Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) remains a key priority for the Neighbourhood Policing Team. Throughout Chesham, officers respond to a wide range of concerns, including noise nuisance, neighbour disputes, reports of cannabis use, littering, criminal damage, harassment, and hate-related incidents. Our approach is to work with all parties involved to understand the issues, reduce harm, and seek fair and effective long-term solutions.

Many ASB reports relate to disputes between neighbours or individuals where relationships have deteriorated over time. These incidents are often classified as personal ASB and can be particularly challenging to resolve. The team works closely with those involved to assess the impact, manage risk, provide advice, and, where necessary, involve partner agencies to help achieve positive outcomes.

Where behaviour escalates into criminal offending, officers will carry out a full investigation and take appropriate action. Some cases can be resolved through early intervention, advice, or low-level enforcement. Others require a more sustained approach involving evidence gathering and partnership working. Recently, officers in Chesham have made arrests in connection with ongoing antisocial behaviour that amounted to harassment after previous attempts to resolve matters through agreements and warnings proved unsuccessful. These investigations remain ongoing, and supporting victims continues to be a priority.

Where individuals responsible for persistent ASB are identified, officers will consider a range of measures to prevent further incidents. These may include warning letters, Acceptable Behaviour Agreements (ABAs), Community Protection Warnings, and, where appropriate, more robust enforcement action. Our aim is always to protect victims, address the root causes of offending behaviour, and improve community safety.

Chesham continues to experience a relatively high demand for ASB-related policing compared with other areas across the wider policing district. To address this, officers regularly carry out patrols within the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods, focusing resources on locations where concerns have been raised by residents or identified through police data and community feedback.

Targeted patrol activity continues to play an important role in addressing Anti-Social Behaviour and community concerns across Chesham. Between 1 July 2026 and 26 August 2026, a total of 121 Hotspot patrols were recorded on the Neighbourhood Policing Application. As this system is used exclusively by Neighbourhood Policing staff, the actual number of patrols conducted within the area is likely to be considerably higher when taking into account activity carried out by Response Policing, Roads Policing officers, and other specialist departments that do not routinely record patrols on this platform.

Analysis of patrol activity shows that approximately 95 deployments took place within the Chesham High Street hotspot area. The majority of these deployments were conducted as high-visibility foot patrols, supplemented by Park and Walk patrols and two mounted patrol deployments. Most patrols lasted between 20 and 40 minutes, with an average duration of approximately 35 minutes.

These patrols provide a visible police presence in areas identified through crime, incident and intelligence data, helping to deter offending, reassure the public, engage with local businesses and residents, and enable officers to respond proactively to emerging issues within the town centre and surrounding areas.

We are aware of ongoing concerns relating to gatherings in some local car parks, which can occasionally lead to Anti-Social behaviour, disturbance, and littering. These locations have long been areas of interest for both the police and Buckinghamshire Council. However, since the installation of additional CCTV coverage, reports of problems have reduced noticeably. We continue to work closely with the Council, which reviews CCTV footage where incidents are reported or identified.

Concerns also continue to be raised about anti-social vehicle use, including speeding, racing, excessive noise, and dangerous driving during late-night and early morning hours. Residents are encouraged to report these incidents directly to the police, particularly where vehicle registration numbers, descriptions, photographs, or video footage are available. The more information provided, the better placed officers are to identify offenders and take positive enforcement action. Reporting incidents directly to the police, rather than solely discussing them on social media, ensures concerns are properly recorded and can contribute to intelligence-led policing activity.

The Neighbourhood Team remains committed to working alongside residents, local organisations, and partner agencies to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour, support victims, and ensure Chesham remains a safe and welcoming place to live, work, and visit

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.