Wycombe West

Anti-social behaviour is a priority issue for the Wycombe West neighbourhood team. Recently they have been dealing with vehicle related matters such as anti-social parking and anti-social driving of motorbikes. There have also been complaints of disturbances to the community at Booker Park where fireworks have been set off inappropriately.

Over the last week, we have unfortunately seen the tragic consequences that anti-social use of vehicles can have.
Last month, we received a number of reports regarding anti-social riding of motorbikes in Booker Park, Squirrel Lane and Desborough Recreation Ground. In response, we put an operation in place to identify and apprehend those responsible. As a result, two individuals were identified and two motorcycles were seized and subsequently destroyed.
Parents and guardians have an important role to play in helping young people understand the difference between right and wrong. Unfortunately, we still see occasions where unacceptable behaviour is enabled rather than challenged. E-bikes and e-scooters are a good example. If you purchase one for your child, please ensure it is legal for its intended use and that it is being ridden lawfully. Many e-bikes and most privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads, pavements or public spaces. Vehicles found being used unlawfully may be seized.
Here in Wycombe, the Neighbourhood Policing Team will be placing an even greater focus on vehicle-related offending and anti-social behaviour. Only a year ago, High Wycombe was ranked sixth amongst the highest areas in the country for uninsured vehicles. Recent figures show significant improvement. While I do not currently have the latest ranking available, I have no doubt that a more robust and proactive approach is having a positive impact.
Working alongside our Roads Policing Team on 6 August, we achieved the following results:
•One person arrested for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
•One person arrested for dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance, driving whilst over the prescribed drug limit, and possession of a Class B controlled drug.
•One person arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. A significant quantity of cocaine was seized. They were also arrested for possession of a bladed article in a public place and possession of a Class B controlled drug.
•One person arrested on recall to prison.
•One person arrested for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance, and two offences of making off without payment.
•One person arrested for driving whilst over the prescribed drug limit.
In total, this day of action resulted in:
•Six arrests
•Twenty traffic offence reports/tickets issued
•Two vehicle seizures
A further day of action took place on 16 August, although I do not yet have the results available to share.
As many residents will be aware, High Wycombe's diverse community means we can experience seasonal increases in the use of fireworks throughout the year. This summer, we saw a significant increase in reports of fireworks being set off late at night. Given the hot weather and heightened risk of wildfires, this was particularly concerning.
PCSO Napier received a number of complaints from residents during a Have Your Say event at Booker Park regarding fireworks that had been causing disruption over the previous week. Information provided by the community allowed us to identify the address involved, and anti-social behaviour warning letters were issued to all occupants.
Finally, we have recently been in discussions with DVLA management, who have agreed to support targeted activity in areas of Wycombe affected by persistent vehicle-related issues. Joint days of action focusing on untaxed vehicles are being planned and we look forward to sharing the results with you in the coming months.
Thank you to everyone who continues to report concerns and provide information. Your support helps us tackle anti-social behaviour, improve road safety and make our communities safer for everyone.

Speeding is consistently voiced as a top concern by the local residents across the areas of Castlefield and Downley. The neighbourhood team continue to address these concerns via speed checks and enforcement days of actions.

Last month's update on speeding generated valuable feedback from the community, highlighting concerns on a number of roads across the area. We rely on this information to help identify problem locations and target our activity where it is most needed. If you are experiencing anti-social driving or speeding issues in your area, please report them via the Thames Valley Police website.
The team will continue to monitor local speeding hotspots and assess where future enforcement activity should be prioritised, including the potential deployment of the Road Safety Enforcement Van in locations identified as high risk.
Officers conducted patrols and enforcement activity last week in response to concerns raised by residents. Areas targeted included:
•West Wycombe Road
•The Pastures
•Pheasant Drive
•Hughenden Avenue
•Hithercroft Road
•Littleworth Road
•New Road
•Garrets Way
As a result of this activity, officers issued:
•Five tickets for excess speed
•Three tickets for other traffic offences
While police enforcement plays an important role in tackling speeding, enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. Speeding occurs on most roads and at all times of the day, particularly during peak commuting periods and late at night when roads are quieter. Making a meaningful reduction in speeding requires a collective effort from the entire community.
All road users should consider the very real risks associated with driving above the speed limit. Even small increases in speed can significantly increase both the likelihood and severity of a collision. Slowing down saves lives and helps keep Wycombe West a safer place for everyone.
If you would like to see how many collisions have occurred in your area, this information is publicly available and can be viewed on the Traffweb website
The team is also working to promote a cultural shift in how speeding is viewed. Much like drink-driving, we want speeding to be seen as socially unacceptable. Residents are encouraged to challenge family members and friends who regularly exceed speed limits and to promote safe and responsible driving habits. Creating safer roads is a shared responsibility.
I have also been engaging with local Parish Councils regarding Community Speedwatch schemes and exploring opportunities to secure funding through the Police and Crime Commissioner's Community Fund for speed monitoring devices and portable Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS).
Supporting Enforcement Technology
The area continues to benefit from both fixed speed cameras and mobile enforcement vans. These not only provide enforcement opportunities but also serve as highly visible deterrents to drivers who may otherwise put themselves and others at risk.
Results from enforcement activity during May included:
•64 offences detected by fixed speed cameras
•815 offences detected through mobile enforcement sites
These figures demonstrate the ongoing need for proactive speed enforcement and monitoring across our communities.
Speeding: It's Not Worth the Risk.
Every journey begins with a choice. Choosing to drive within the speed limit protects not only you, but everyone else using our roads. Together, we can make Wycombe West's roads safer for all.

The Wycombe West neighbourhood team continues to deal with drug offending in the area. It has been voted as a community priority by local residents who continue to be impacted by drug dealing and associated anti-social behaviour in the community.

Tackling Drug-Related Crime
The Wycombe West Neighbourhood Policing Team continues to take proactive action to tackle drug-related crime and the anti-social behaviour that often accompanies it. Through targeted operations, high-visibility patrols and partnership working, officers remain committed to addressing the issues that matter most to local residents.
The fight against drugs is relentless. Organised Crime Groups and local dealers continue to target our communities, exploiting young people, vulnerable adults and those who can be easily influenced. The harm caused by drug-related offending extends far beyond those directly involved, impacting families, neighbourhoods and local businesses.
August saw a significant result following joint work between the Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Neighbourhood Disruption Team. Several warrants were executed at locations across the area, resulting in a substantial seizure of nitrous oxide canisters (NOS) at one address. The seized items were subsequently destroyed, preventing them from being distributed within our communities.
This month, the Neighbourhood Team has also executed warrants in Downley, Booker and Sands. These operations are the culmination of many hours of work gathering intelligence, developing evidence, obtaining court authority and carrying out enforcement action. Investigations remain ongoing, and where sufficient evidence exists, offenders will be brought before the courts.
These results demonstrate our commitment to disrupting those involved in drug-related offending and protecting our communities from the harm it causes.
We would like to thank residents for continuing to report concerns and provide information. Community intelligence is vital in helping us identify offenders, secure warrants and target those who seek to bring crime and disorder into our neighbourhoods. Every piece of information received helps build a clearer picture and supports our efforts to keep Wycombe West a safe place to live, work and visit.
If you have concerns about drug dealing or drug-related activity in your area, please continue to report it to Thames Valley Police. Together, we can make a difference.