Didcot

County Drug Lines (CDL)

The Neighbourhood Team work closely alongside other agencies including housing and social care providers who help us to identify vulnerable people at risk of exploitation. Early identification is key to minimising any anti-social behaviour (ASB) to neighbours as well as safeguarding the victims and identifying offenders. An example of this is a Closure Order we are currently managing on the Ladygrove Estate following concerns raised for the residents. There are many ways to disrupt ASB related criminality but when the risk of harm is high then the Closure Order is a great tactic because it means unwanted visitors can be arrested. On the Great Western Estate, the team are working with residents to identify offenders using a regular drugs hotspot. One young person is receiving ongoing drug diversion and education support.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

The Orchard Centre is currently a focus for high visibility policing to disrupt ASB and divert young people to support services. The team hold regular Have Your Say meetings within the shopping precinct to invite public engagement and comments on what they consider the priorities are. With the lighter evening and warmer weather the neighbourhood team will be on foot working with Orchard Centre Security to identify repeat ASB offenders and divert the activity. Recent activity includes stop and search of two teenagers for drugs following calls from the public. The parents were supportive of the searches and our work in tackling ASB. With the assistance of Local Authority and Orchard Centre CCTV numerous teenagers have been identified for ASB and given a warning at their home address.

Retail crime

The retail community has experienced a range of increasing threats of violence by criminal’s intent on stealing products. A big focus for the team is to increase our visibility especially in identified hotspots and engage with the community to identify persistent offenders and prosecute them. The recent dedicated operations saw 60 individual retail patrols in one week for the Didcot and Wallingford areas. The retailer’s feedback was very positive and as a team, we remain focused to build on this good work over the summer period. A regular shoplifter was arrested and charged to court for repeat thefts from a village shop. He thought he was clever using the local public transport services and targeting a remote location but thanks to some good work he has been convicted.