Six months into existence Leicestershire Police's hotspot team are making an impact

A police team set up in July to increase visible patrols and prevent crime and anti-social behaviour in Leicester City Centre have seen great results in the first six months.

The growing team, made up of one sergeant and seven police constables are using crime data to target their patrols in the times and places where they can best prevent crime and anti-social behaviour. 

In a short space of time, the dedicated team have already helped to convict offenders, safeguard victims, and produce intelligence which have led to the recovery of firearms.

The team, who work as an extension to the strong policing team at Mansfield House Police Station in Leicester City Centre have become well equipped over the last six months in understanding the workings of the city and priority areas.

Officers from the dedicated team working with Leicester BID and street outreach team workers.

Captured below is a small snippet of their shared success:

Whilst PC Rickerby-Macqueen was patrolling the Haymarket bus station (one of Leicester City Centre’s hotspots) he came across a domestic incident between a male and female. With a police officer present, things soon de-escalated. When the male walked off, the female disclosed an assault to PC Rickerby-Macqueen. An initial account was gained from her, but she refused to give a statement at the time.

With knowing where the offence occurred, PC Rickerby-Macqueen retrieved CCTV at a shop he knew had a clear vision of the area. From the CCTV evidence, an evidence lead prosecution could proceed which led to an early guilty plea and safeguarded the victim meaning a lot of police time had been saved.

Similarly, PC O’Donnell was in a hotspot in the Narborough Road area when she had seen a suspicious car driving in the area. After doing some intel checks, it showed the car was registered out of force area. On this basis that it was very close to another one of the known hotspots, she submitted an intel log.

One week later, neighbourhood policing officers stopped the same car off the back of the intel log and recovered drugs, cash, and phones. A Section 18 was carried out at the address with a firearm being recovered. PC O’Donnell’s attention to detail within the hotspots she was patrolling allowed for the intel to be registered, leading to one less illegal weapon off our streets.

As a result of the dedicated team’s patrols, the following work has been carried out:

• 94 arrests
• 89 stop searches
• 7 missing people found
• 255 intel logs
• 99 crime reports
• 5 Section-50 ASB powers issued

Detective Inspector Mark Brennan from the Prevention and Problem Solving Hub, said: “Crime has generally decreased in Leicester City Centre and serious violence has dropped in the crime hotspot areas. This is thanks to the ongoing partnership work and efforts from our dedicated hotspots team.

“I am proud of the efforts so far given by the officers in tackling anti-social behaviour and serious violence in the city centre hotspots. The team are evidently showcasing the success from working in this targeted way of focusing on areas which can benefit from an increased policing presence. The examples of their excellent policing work are just a small snippet of the great work they do every day.”

Sergeant Matt Orton, who oversees the dedicated hotspot team, added: “The team are working tirelessly on a day-to-day basis, hitting the hotspots engaging with the public, submitting intel logs, and arresting those who cause the most harm. They are becoming familiar with the repeat victims and perpetrators, and this is all down to their willingness to be in the right place at the right time. Please engage with our officers if you see them – they are there to support you and the area.”

Policing Commander for Leicester City Centre, Inspector Ryan Ludlam, said: “The positive impact made by the force’s dedicated hotspot team serves as an extension to the ongoing response and neighbourhood policing, we do every day in the city. The hotspots team have successfully integrated themselves into our area and we are feeling benefit from this collaboration of working as one team.”

The team have been working with partner agencies and the local community to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour as a holistic approach. Local partner agencies including street outreach services, local authority wardens and St John’s Ambulance have also been providing additional visible presence in these areas. This work has been massively supported by Leicester City Council and Leicester BID.

Leicestershire Police were fortunate enough to be awarded £1.5m through the Home Office GRIP fund in 2024/2025 to tackle serious violence and anti-social behaviour within Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

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.