Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Teams are keeping your streets safe

West Mercia Police has launched the first of its new Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Teams (NCFTs), with dedicated officers on the ground to tackle the crimes the public want prioritised.

55 officers are being recruited to the five NCFTs across the force area - with a sergeant leading a team of constables - in each of the Local Policing Areas (LPAs).

The NCFTs will be working hard to keep persistent offenders off the streets and reduce levels of high impact crimes such as anti-social behaviour, drugs, major thefts, and criminal damage.

Funded by Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion delivering on calls for officers to be more visible and accessible in communities, the teams are fast-responding high visibility units who aim to tackle the offences with the highest causes of harm to the public, deploying a rapid serious crime response.

South Worcestershire and Shropshire are both leading the way with the new teams in place now and already supporting the important work of our Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs), Problem Solving Teams, Roads Policing, Proactive Teams and, of course, the wider force. The teams for Herefordshire, North Worcestershire and Telford will be in place from September.

Chief Constable, Pippa Mills, said: “We never underestimate the reassurance police visibility gives to our communities. These new teams increase the numbers of dedicated officers in your area, with a focus on tackling the crimes that impact you the most where you live. 

“The officers forming these teams have a clear and unwavering commitment to keeping you safe from harm and will be proactive in targeting offenders – as has already been seen from their results in the first few weeks they’ve been in place.  

“Complementing the work of your Safer Neighbourhood Teams, the teams give us increased resources to focus on the crimes that have the biggest impact on you and issues such as anti-social behaviour.”

Earlier this year it was announced that thanks to West Mercia Police’s recruitment efforts and investment by PCC John Campion, police officer numbers have reached record levels in West Mercia made possible as a greater proportion of the police’s budget has been focused on front-line service delivery.

PCC John Campion said: “I am delighted to see two new Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Teams already serving the communities of South Worcestershire and Shropshire, with three more to follow in September covering the whole of West Mercia.

“Following my investment which has seen officer numbers reaching record levels in West Mercia, these first-of-a-kind teams in West Mercia will be fast-responsive units working in the heart of communities tackling the issues that matter to you.

“The teams are another example of my commitment to listen and deliver on your calls for more visible and accessible police officers, as I continue to ensure your police force has the resources and tools it needs to deliver a more secure West Mercia, as set out in my Safer West Mercia Plan.”

South Worcestershire Police NCFT, who with Shropshire are the first to be operational, are already getting results in the LPA that covers Worcester, Pershore, Droitwich, Kempsey, and Malvern.  

DI Dave Knight of South Worcestershire Police said the NCFT have made 14 arrests so far, targeting the area’s highest harm individuals.

They have carried out many hours of uniform foot patrol in areas identified as a concern by the local community, such as Kempsey and Upton Snodsbury.

Their efforts with the foot patrols have dramatically reduced criminality by arresting and charging suspects over high value burglaries, Class A drug dealing, seizing weapons and recall to prison.

He added: “This is a significant investment in officers to tackle high harm offenders more directly.

“Our SNTs have never before had a bespoke team to support them on the criminality that affects our communities.”

Shropshire NCFT have so far made 12 arrests for various offences including theft, breach of CBO, drug related crimes and for assaulting an emergency worker. As a result of the NCFT's work two people have been recalled to prison.

DI Dafydd Jones, from the Shropshire Local Policing Area, said: “Introducing the NCFT will have a positive impact on local policing, which give our SNTs more support in tackling crimes within their communities.  

“I am looking forward to working our new NCFT officers here in Shropshire, giving us the resources to target more prolific offenders and ultimately making our communities safer.” 

To hear directly from your local policing team about activity in your area, as well as crime prevention advice, sign up to Neighbourhood Matters and follow your local policing team on our social media accounts.

 

*Photo captions: Photo one, the South Worcester NCFT with Chief Constable Pippa Mills and PCC John Campion. Photo two, members of the Shropshire NCFT

JI, Corporate Communications