Didcot

Knife crime and Drug Use in Didcot

The Neighbourhood Team has remained focused on addressing ongoing issues of knife carrying and drug related activity in the area. Officers are utilising stop and search powers lawfully and appropriately, based on reasonable grounds, to detect and disrupt those who choose to carry weapons. Targeted patrols and intelligence led activity continue to support our efforts to reduce harm, and several investigations into knife enabled offences this year have resulted in positive outcomes and youth diversion opportunities.
Our approach to stop and search remains robust: when legal grounds exist, we will use our powers to remove weapons and drugs from the streets and ensure the safety of the community.
We are also continuing our work with local secondary schools and youth services to raise awareness around child criminal exploitation, drug misuse, and the risks associated with County Lines activity. Education remains key to preventing young people from being drawn into crime, and we remain committed to supporting schools with advice, guidance, and early intervention.
Between the 18th and 24th of May, the national Op Sceptre campaign saw targeted activities around the town, including test purchasing of knives in retail outlets, weapon sweeps of public spaces and focused presentations to schools and youth groups.
We continue to support vulnerable people and tackle the impact of drug dealing in the community through a variety of tactics—some visible, and some that take place behind the scenes.
After residents told us that drug use remains a major concern, the team continued the use of lawful stop searches in Didcot over the past month. This proactive work has produced a 20% positive outcome rate, with officers seizing drugs and paraphernalia and securing valuable intelligence.
We want to continue tackling this issue with your help. If you have information relating to drug use or supply, cuckooing, exploitation, or knife enabled crime, please report it via 101, our online reporting tool, or anonymously through CrimeStoppers. Every piece of information makes a difference in keeping our community safe.
In addition, the team is planning further warrants and operational activity targeting the illegal supply of drugs across local towns and villages, including County Lines involvement.
We are also working closely with the courts and housing authorities, resulting in full and partial closure orders at several addresses around the town where high levels of drug related activity and ASB have taken place.
You can stay informed about our work by signing up to free Thames Valley Alerts at https://thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) and youth-related disorder in Didcot

Over the last four weeks, there has been a 11% in reported anti-social behaviour (ASB) compared with the previous month. We are aware that lighter evenings, warmer weather and the half-term school holidays have led to increased activity, and we will continue working proactively to prevent ASB and reduce the impact on your communities.
The team continues to patrol ASB hotspot areas, balancing this with growing demand across all areas of policing. While there is a national focus on increasing officer numbers, this does not always translate directly to additional neighbourhood officers locally. As a result, we are prioritising our patrols using data and intelligence to ensure we are visible where it matters most and delivering the greatest impact for our communities.
We continue to work closely with the Community Safety Partnership, local retailers, and housing providers to support those affected by ASB.
Our school newsletter is shared regularly with teachers and parents, highlighting current concerns and offering advice to help keep young people safe.
Because ASB has a real impact on residents and businesses, our tolerance for this behaviour remains low. Where appropriate, we work with Youth Justice colleagues to ensure young people receive the right interventions, support, and consequences.
We are also working closely with the Orchard Centre to improve communication, reduce ASB, and prevent repeat offending. Several stores have experienced an increase in ASB and related incidents, mainly involving youths aged 11–15. In response, we are working with retailers and security staff to address these issues, and you will continue to see an increased police presence in the area.
We are increasing patrols during the busiest times in the Orchard Centre, Broadway, Ladygrove, Great Western Park, Edmunds Park, and Willowbrook, and we continue to work with the Community Safety Partnership to improve our ability to identify and tackle ASB. Alongside this, we are exploring early intervention opportunities with the Youth Justice Team and submitting safeguarding referrals where needed to support young people and their families.
We are working closely with parents, the SNG, SOHA, the council, community safety teams, schools, and social services to address ASB using a range of options including mediation, tenancy warnings, ABCs, and for both adults and young people where appropriate. We would also encourage parents and carers to be aware of where their children are, who they are with, and what they are doing, as they play a key role in helping prevent anti-social behaviour and keeping young people safe

Have Your Say-
Please make sure you have your say at our advertised community meetings and let us know where you feel our focus should be.
You can sign up for free Thames Valley Alerts at:
https://thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/
Thank you to everyone who completed our recent community survey. Your feedback is helping shape the priorities as we develop a collective approach for 2026.

Reduce retail crime in Didcot and surrounding areas

The team continues to work closely with the dedicated Retail Crime Team and local retailers to tackle shoplifting across the town. We are encouraging all stores to make full use of the current DISC App, and new AUROR app, which enable retailers to quickly and effectively share images of offenders and report incidents directly to us. We encourage all business owners locally to engage with these initiatives and recognise the benefits, so they do not miss out on this valuable tool in detection and prevention of retail crime.

Operation Purchase remains a key focus, involving high-visibility patrols in hotspot locations and practical target-hardening measures designed to deter offenders. Alongside this, we are working with stores to improve loss-prevention opportunities—identifying emerging trends, strengthening evidence-gathering, and ultimately helping reduce the frequency of offending. We remain committed to pursuing anyone identified as being involved in retail crime and supporting local businesses.
We will continue to collaborate with the business community by improving communication, taking robust action against offenders, and recognising both the national focus on retail crime and the significant personal and financial impact it can have on local businesses.
The Neighbourhood Team will continue to work closely with Licensing to prevent the unlawful sale of vapes, alcohol, and regulated energy drinks to children, helping keep young people safe. Please report any concerns you may have to us via our website reporting tool or 101.