Westcotes

You Said: You are concerned and frustrated by individuals involved in drug use and dealing in public spaces across our beat.
What We Are Going To Do: We have a number of days of action planned where you will see officers out in force, targeting those involved in drug-related offences. Our focus will be on enforcement, disruption, and working with partners to tackle the root causes and reduce harm in the community.

Throughout July, dedicated neighbourhood officers have continued to target drug use and dealing in public spaces across the beat through a combination of proactive enforcement, intelligence-led operations, visibility patrols, and partnership working.

During the month, officers carried out a number of high-visibility patrols and plain-clothes operations in locations identified through community intelligence and reported concerns. These deployments focused on disrupting individuals involved in the supply and use of controlled drugs, resulting in stop searches, the seizure of drugs, and positive action being taken against those suspected of committing offences.

We have also continued to develop intelligence relating to both street-level drug activity and those believed to be involved in the wider supply of controlled substances. Information received from residents has enabled officers to focus resources where they are most needed and identify emerging hotspots requiring additional attention.

Working alongside Leicester City Council, housing providers, and other partner agencies, we have continued to address locations that attract anti-social behaviour and drug-related activity. This problem-solving approach aims not only to deal with immediate concerns but also to deliver longer-term improvements for residents and local businesses affected by these issues.

Officers have remained highly visible within the community through regular foot patrols, engagement events, and Beat Bus deployments. These opportunities have allowed us to speak directly with residents, listen to concerns, provide reassurance, and encourage continued reporting of drug-related activity.

We would like to thank the community for its continued support and the information provided throughout July. Your reports remain essential in helping us identify offenders, build intelligence, and direct policing activity effectively. We encourage anyone with concerns about drug-related activity to continue reporting information so that we can take positive action and help keep our neighbourhoods safe.

Priority: Retail Crime in the Westcotes Area
You Said: We have had an increase of reports relating to retail crime covering both theft and ASB impacting our local businesses.
What We Are Going To Do: We are implementing a dedicated patrol plan to increase police presence in key locations, focusing deterring those who are causing the biggest issues. We have already identified the repeat offenders and have a plan of action to specifically engage with those offenders and put the spotlight on their specific situations that feed this sort of crime and ASB.

Throughout July, officers have continued to prioritise retail crime and anti-social behaviour affecting businesses across the Westcotes area through a combination of high-visibility patrols, targeted enforcement activity, partnership working, and proactive engagement with local retailers.

Dedicated patrols have been carried out at key hotspot locations and during peak offending periods, providing reassurance to business owners, staff, and members of the public while disrupting those involved in shop theft and associated anti-social behaviour. These patrols have helped officers identify and monitor repeat offenders who are responsible for a significant proportion of incidents reported within the area.

The neighbourhood team has continued to work closely with local businesses to gather intelligence, review evidence, and build robust cases against offenders. Information shared by retailers has enabled officers to take positive action where appropriate, including conducting investigations, making arrests, pursuing out-of-court disposals, and progressing cases through the criminal justice process. Work has also continued to identify opportunities to utilise criminal behaviour orders and other preventative measures against persistent offenders.

Alongside enforcement activity, officers have maintained close working relationships with Leicester City Council, local businesses, and partner agencies to address the underlying factors contributing to offending. This has included supporting individuals affected by substance misuse, vulnerability, and other complex issues that are often linked to repeat retail crime and anti-social behaviour. By combining enforcement with problem-solving and support interventions, we aim to achieve sustainable reductions in offending and improve the local environment for businesses and visitors.

Throughout the month, officers have engaged directly with retailers and staff to discuss concerns, provide crime prevention advice, and ensure that businesses remain informed about ongoing activity. These conversations continue to play an important role in shaping our patrol plans and identifying emerging issues within the area.

We would like to thank local businesses and members of the public for their continued support and for reporting offences and concerns. The information provided is invaluable in helping officers identify offenders, direct resources effectively, and achieve positive outcomes. We remain committed to maintaining a visible presence within Westcotes and will continue working with partners to reduce retail crime and support the local business community.

Priority: ASB with particular focus on those seeking and using sex workers in public places.

You Said: We’ve received a number of reports about some specific areas that have been used for sex work to the frustration of

What We Are Going To Do: Typically this is a sensitive area of policing where we see high levels of vulnerabilities with those involved. That being said we cannot accept the families and residents that make up our communities being exposed to this behaviour. Therefore we are going to target those who are using sex workers in public places through specific intelligence led operations with a view to deterring these activities taking place.

Throughout July, officers have undertaken work to address anti-social behaviour associated with individuals seeking and using sex workers in public places. Activity has focused on locations identified through community reports and intelligence, with the aim of reducing the impact of this behaviour on residents, businesses, and those visiting the area.

The neighbourhood team has carried out a series of high-visibility and intelligence-led patrols in identified hotspot locations, focusing on deterring those who are driving demand for sex work in public spaces. Officers have used these patrols to identify suspicious activity, engage with individuals in the area, gather intelligence, and take appropriate action where offences have been identified.

Recognising the sensitivities and vulnerabilities often associated with this type of activity, officers have continued to adopt a problem-solving approach, balancing enforcement with safeguarding considerations. We have worked closely with partner agencies and support services to ensure vulnerable individuals are signposted to appropriate assistance, support, and safeguarding opportunities where required.

Alongside targeted patrols, officers have continued to develop intelligence relating to those using public spaces for this activity, enabling resources to be directed effectively and supporting future enforcement opportunities. Information received from residents has played an important role in helping officers identify patterns of behaviour, peak activity times, and areas requiring increased police attention.

The neighbourhood team has also maintained engagement with local residents and community groups throughout the month, providing reassurance and encouraging the reporting of incidents and suspicious activity. This ongoing dialogue helps us better understand the impact these issues have on the community and ensures our policing response remains focused on local concerns.

We would like to thank those who have continued to report incidents and share information with us. Community intelligence remains vital in helping us tackle anti-social behaviour effectively and maintain safe public spaces for everyone. We will continue to carry out targeted patrols, work with partner agencies, and develop intelligence-led activity aimed at reducing this behaviour and addressing its impact on the local community.