New team set up to help prevent crime in Leicester City Centre

A new police team has been set up in July to increase visible patrols and prevent crime and anti-social behaviour in Leicester City Centre. 

The newly created team, made up of one sergeant and six police constables will use crime data to target their patrols on the times and places where they can best prevent crime and anti-social behaviour. 

The team will patrol the city on foot whilst also working with partner agencies and the local community to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour in the longer term.  Local partner agencies including street outreach services, local authority wardens and St John’s Ambulance will also be providing additional visible presence in these areas. 

This approach, known as hotspots policing, has been utilised by Leicestershire Police since July 2021.  It has been further extended this year by Home Office GRIP funding with additional visible patrols also happening in Leicester, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Coalville, Hinckley, Loughborough and Melton Mowbray.   

Detective Inspector, Mark Brennan, said: “The approach of hotspots policing has been shown to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.  This new team and the wider patrolling happening around the force area is a further commitment made by Leicestershire Police which will mean less victims of crime but also increased feelings of safety and reassurance in the areas that need it most”.  

Chief Superintendent Shane O’Neill said: “The newly dedicated ASB team is connected to a wider strategy Leicestershire Police hold towards preventing crime. We recently shared that an additional 10,000 hours of policing had been provided in the city centre, this is yet another example of policing activity on top of our continued pro-active patrols and operations. Hotspot policing has proven strong results to date and strengthens the work we do alongside partners and other agencies.” 

Police Commander for Leicester City Centre, Inspector Nadia Rana, said: “Officers will be engaging directly with the public as normal, please continue to speak to us. We want to reassure feelings of public safety and maintain strong relationships with our communities.  

“It is important that reports of offences do continue to be made to us so that we can continue to work to prevent and detect offences. If you are a victim of any type of offence, please do report it to us and please know that support is available to you. Reports can be made online at www.leics.police.uk or by calling 101. Always call 999 in an emergency. If you don’t feel ready to report to police, then please speak with someone who you trust.”