Riverside

Youth anti-social behaviour
You said: Coming into summer holidays, youth anti-social behaviour increases due to being out more often

July Update
As the school summer holidays began, the local Beat Team took a proactive approach by visiting schools on their final days of term. These visits provided an opportunity for positive engagement with students while also reinforcing important messages about personal responsibility, respect, and staying safe during the holiday period. As expected, pupils were excited about the weeks ahead, and staff at the schools were welcoming and appreciative of the ongoing partnership with local policing teams throughout the academic year.

Our PCSOs have also continued to attend sessions at the St Andrews Play Association. These visits provide valuable opportunities to engage with young people from across the beat area, as well as those visiting during the holidays. Building and maintaining positive relationships with local young people is an important part of neighbourhood policing, helping to ensure they feel comfortable approaching officers with any concerns or issues. It also gives them the chance to ask questions about policing, local matters, and issues affecting their community.

Unfortunately, our officers have also had to deal with incidents involving young people committing theft offences in the city centre. While these incidents did not take place within the Riverside Beat area, our team identified those responsible and successfully recovered more than £300 worth of stolen goods, which were returned to the retailer. Following the investigation, all individuals involved were dealt with through appropriate out-of-court disposals. We continue to encourage parents and guardians to speak with young people about making positive choices and understanding the consequences of criminal behaviour.

Theft of cycles/cycle crime
You Said: Summer months mean more people are utilising their bikes to get around and are concerned of having them stolen.

July Update
The team has continued its focus on cycle crime prevention throughout the month, holding bike registration events at a number of locations including Leicester Royal Infirmary and Castle Gardens. These events allowed officers to register bicycles on a national database, provide free crime prevention advice and speak with cyclists about measures they can take to reduce the risk of theft. They also provided a valuable opportunity to engage with members of the public, encourage sign-ups to Neighbourhood Link and direct residents towards support services where appropriate.

Alongside this work, officers have carried out regular patrols at locations that attract large numbers of visitors, employees and students. These patrols are aimed at deterring theft, identifying suspicious behaviour and providing a visible policing presence. Locations visited this month included PureGym on Walnut Street, the Raw Dykes Road shopping area and the De Montfort University (DMU) campus.

The team also conducted a pilot deployment of Operation Pedalfast at DMU. The operation targets the unlawful use of e-bikes and e-scooters and was introduced as a trial within the Riverside area. The deployment resulted in the seizure of three e-scooters and two illegal e-bikes. During the operation, officers stopped a young man riding one of the illegal e-bikes and subsequently arrested him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

The success of this initial operation demonstrates the value of proactive policing and targeted enforcement activity, and the team will continue to use intelligence-led patrols and engagement opportunities to tackle crime and keep local communities safe.

Anti-Social Behaviour at Castle Gardens and Surrounding Areas
You said: Although the park is a nice place to visit, there is still anti-social behaviour happening there in sight of visitors

July Update
Castle Gardens has been a focus for the beat team this month following reports of anti-social behaviour and drug-related activity in the area. In response, officers have increased patrols and used the location as a venue for a number of community engagement events, helping to provide a visible and reassuring presence while addressing local concerns.

Our PCSOs have also been holding bike registration events within the park. These sessions not only help improve cycle security by registering bikes on a national database but also provide an excellent opportunity for officers to speak with local residents, visitors and cyclists. The events have proved effective in strengthening community relationships while acting as a deterrent to offending through increased police visibility.

The team has continued to work closely with Leicester City Council and De Montfort University staff, who regularly patrol the area, to ensure a joined-up approach to keeping Castle Gardens safe. In addition, we have a team which has maintained a presence in and around the location, recognising Castle Gardens as an area requiring enhanced attention and proactive policing.

During patrols, officers have carried out a number of stop searches, resulting in arrests for suspected possession with intent to supply drugs offences. Castle Gardens also formed part of our recent Operation Pedalfast activity due to its close proximity to the university campus. The operation, which targets the unlawful use of e-bikes and e-scooters often linked to criminality, has provided further opportunities for proactive engagement and enforcement, helping to disrupt offending and improve safety within the area.