POLICE DETAILS
Cheshire Constabulary - Chester City Neighbourhood

Complaints regarding anti-social behaviour on York Street affecting local residents.

City Centre officers conducted a warrant at an address linked to anti-social behaviour and drug use. Following that a closure order was sought at court. On 15th October this was granted and the property closed for a period of 3 months.

- You want to see more hi-vis officers on foot patrol in the City Centre. 
- Drug usage and drug dealing is a problem in the City Centre.

- We had a total of 1220 hours of additional police presence in the City Centre throughout December. These officers conducted foot patrol across our key hotspot locations to target and disrupt anti-social behaviour, crime, and disorder. These officers were an added resource in order to supplement our usual patrols. To further increase our hi-vis presence, we enlisted the support of our colleagues from Greater Manchester Police's mounted unit who brought four Police Horses to patrol the City Centre and engage with the public.
- We conducted three drugs dog operations in the City Centre in the approach to Christmas. These operations targeted the main thoroughfares for maximum impact including Eastgate Street, The Cross, and outside the train station. These operations have resulted in 93 stop searches, 11 arrests including for possession with intent to supply drugs, possession of knives, assault, and people wanted on warrant, 22 Community Resolutions issued, two summons to court issues, and one Youth Justice referral.

- You want to see more hi-vis officers on foot patrol in the City Centre. 
- Drug usage and drug dealing is a problem in the City Centre.

- We had a total of 1220 hours of additional police presence in the City Centre throughout December. These officers conducted foot patrol across our key hotspot locations to target and disrupt anti-social behaviour, crime, and disorder. These officers were an added resource in order to supplement our usual patrols. To further increase our hi-vis presence, we enlisted the support of our colleagues from Greater Manchester Police's mounted unit who brought four Police Horses to patrol the City Centre and engage with the public.
- We conducted three drugs dog operations in the City Centre in the approach to Christmas. These operations targeted the main thoroughfares for maximum impact including Eastgate Street, The Cross, and outside the train station. These operations have resulted in 93 stop searches, 11 arrests including for possession with intent to supply drugs, possession of knives, assault, and people wanted on warrant, 22 Community Resolutions issued, two summons to court issues, and one Youth Justice referral.

Shoplifting and Retail Crime is a problem in the City Centre

We held a force wide week of action against shoplifting called Operation Watchmaker between 16th March and 22nd March. During this week, officers targeted retail crime in the City Centre while engaging with retailers, security staff, business partners, and members of the public. High visibility patrols were also conducted throughout the City Centre to support this. Across the force, 32 arrests were made, 49 charges brought, and 17 Community Resolutions issued. In Chester, we secured a number of arrests and charges including that of a prolific offender who was arrested and charged for two breaches of Community Protection Notice and for whom a Criminal Behaviour Order is now being sought. 

Further to this, in order to tackle crime in the City Centre, we recently made use of Live Facial Recognition technology. This technology adheres to strict privacy, data protection and humans rights safeguards, and only individuals from a pre-approved watchlist and used by the system. This technology supports the police in identifying offenders who are wanted, helping improve our efficiency in targeting and investigating crime.

Anti-Social Behaviour on the streets of Chester needs to be address.

Over the last 3 months police in the City Centre have secured 10 Community Protection Warnings and 5 Community Protection Notices against individuals identified engaging in drink and drug fuelled ASB and criminal activity in and around the City Centre.