POLICE DETAILS
Thames Valley Police - Didcot Neighbourhood

County Drug Lines (CDL)

The Neighbourhood Team for Didcot and Wallingford are taking robust action to prevent drug dealing, youth criminality and exploitation. We frequently update our patrol locations in alignment with community feedback and intelligence shared with us from members of the public and where we see an increase in suspicious behaviour or activity. One of these locations includes a play park on the Great Western Park estate. We had received many reports from local residents and inspected this area thoroughly which has led to an operation being put in place, as we now know of the issues that are occurring in the vicinity. One of our PCSOs, who has links with the military, has been helping tutor a young person to progress on a career path to the army. He had previously been involved with CDL and exploitation. We are constantly developing intelligence in order to carry out warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act and continue to reach out to the community to share information on local offenders and those travelling into our sector to commit crime. We have recently been able to help with the closing of a local cannabis factory; interrupt drug users in hot spot locations; issue Community Resolutions to young drug users, successfully stop drug drivers and deal with many offenders both adults and young people appropriately. During a regular patrol in a known drug hotspot, PCSOs were able to disrupt drug use by an individual who has not previously done so. Due to this, we were able to deal with it low level and have a conversation with them and their parents regarding this, in order to give them a chance to turn it around. We endeavour to use tools such as stop and search to disrupt and prosecute those most likely to be dealing drugs.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

We continue to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) which is commonly happening between young people in our area. We have identified key areas for demand reduction, such as the Orchard Centre as well as local play parks in the area. We have recently visited a large group of young people and their parents/care-givers who were involved in ongoing ASB at the Orchard Centre and are working alongside our local shops, restaurants and other partners to reduce anonymity of those being anti-social and dealing with them accordingly. We gave multiple warnings and informed them of the potential to be banned from The Orchard Centre which is an ongoing discussion between us and the Orchard Centre Security. We are committed to dealing with the issues that the community raises to us and develop large quantities of intelligence to target areas of high threat and risk. We hold monthly Have Your Say / ASB Surveys and amend our patrol areas in line with community feedback. We spoke to a group of youths from Didcot Girls School reference to being witnesses to ASB and more serious incidents and spoke about “filming culture” with schools fights and why this is just as inappropriate as the incident itself. We have an ongoing operation on Great Western Park following multiple reports received by residents involving nuisance, alarming and distressing behaviour from young people.

Knife crime

We are, and have been, giving talks in local secondary schools, such as Aureus School and St Birinus School, that help educate young people on understanding exploitation and knife crime, as well as spotting the signs of grooming in both yourself and in your peers; the dangers of carrying knifes; associated offences that may or could be being committed and who to go to for help. These talks are ongoing until the end of the school year and plans have already been made to organise these same talks for the next school year groups. They are well received by the students who have been engaging well with the PCSOs present. Even the staff have been enjoying the presentations made by the PCSOs themselves. We continue to target offenders, habitual knife carriers and members of County Drug Lines gangs across the district, disrupting their behaviour and making it clear that we have a zero tolerance approach to knife enabled crime. We recently dealt with an assault that occurred between two school pupils who have both been known to carry knives and have been working with both pupils, their families and other appropriate partners to help offer support and prevent further offending and future more serious or fatal incidents.

County Drug Lines (CDL)

The Neighbourhood Team work closely alongside other agencies including housing and social care providers who help us to identify vulnerable people at risk of exploitation. Early identification is key to minimising any anti-social behaviour (ASB) to neighbours as well as safeguarding the victims and identifying offenders. An example of this is a Closure Order we are currently managing on the Ladygrove Estate following concerns raised for the residents. There are many ways to disrupt ASB related criminality but when the risk of harm is high then the Closure Order is a great tactic because it means unwanted visitors can be arrested. On the Great Western Estate, the team are working with residents to identify offenders using a regular drugs hotspot. One young person is receiving ongoing drug diversion and education support.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

The Orchard Centre is currently a focus for high visibility policing to disrupt ASB and divert young people to support services. The team hold regular Have Your Say meetings within the shopping precinct to invite public engagement and comments on what they consider the priorities are. With the lighter evening and warmer weather the neighbourhood team will be on foot working with Orchard Centre Security to identify repeat ASB offenders and divert the activity. Recent activity includes stop and search of two teenagers for drugs following calls from the public. The parents were supportive of the searches and our work in tackling ASB. With the assistance of Local Authority and Orchard Centre CCTV numerous teenagers have been identified for ASB and given a warning at their home address.

Retail crime

The retail community has experienced a range of increasing threats of violence by criminal’s intent on stealing products. A big focus for the team is to increase our visibility especially in identified hotspots and engage with the community to identify persistent offenders and prosecute them. The recent dedicated operations saw 60 individual retail patrols in one week for the Didcot and Wallingford areas. The retailer’s feedback was very positive and as a team, we remain focused to build on this good work over the summer period. A regular shoplifter was arrested and charged to court for repeat thefts from a village shop. He thought he was clever using the local public transport services and targeting a remote location but thanks to some good work he has been convicted.

County Drug Lines (CDL)

The Neighbourhood Team work closely alongside other agencies including housing and social care providers who help us to identify vulnerable people at risk of exploitation. Early identification is key to minimising any anti-social behaviour (ASB) to neighbours as well as safeguarding the victims and identifying offenders. An example of this is a Closure Order we are currently managing on the Ladygrove Estate following concerns raised for the residents. There are many ways to disrupt ASB related criminality but when the risk of harm is high then the Closure Order is a great tactic because it means unwanted visitors can be arrested. On the Great Western Estate, the team are working with residents to identify offenders using a regular drugs hotspot. One young person is receiving ongoing drug diversion and education support.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

The Orchard Centre is currently a focus for high visibility policing to disrupt ASB and divert young people to support services. The team hold regular Have Your Say meetings within the shopping precinct to invite public engagement and comments on what they consider the priorities are. With the lighter evening and warmer weather the neighbourhood team will be on foot working with Orchard Centre Security to identify repeat ASB offenders and divert the activity. Recent activity includes stop and search of two teenagers for drugs following calls from the public. The parents were supportive of the searches and our work in tackling ASB. With the assistance of Local Authority and Orchard Centre CCTV numerous teenagers have been identified for ASB and given a warning at their home address.

Retail crime

The retail community has experienced a range of increasing threats of violence by criminal’s intent on stealing products. A big focus for the team is to increase our visibility especially in identified hotspots and engage with the community to identify persistent offenders and prosecute them. The recent dedicated operations saw 60 individual retail patrols in one week for the Didcot and Wallingford areas. The retailer’s feedback was very positive and as a team, we remain focused to build on this good work over the summer period. A regular shoplifter was arrested and charged to court for repeat thefts from a village shop. He thought he was clever using the local public transport services and targeting a remote location but thanks to some good work he has been convicted.

Knife crime and drug use

There is a lot of national focus on reducing the numbers of people carrying knives. As a team, we take this priority very seriously and ensure that we conduct stop searches wherever possible. It has been used to good effect to disrupt ASB groups in Didcot and Wallingford. One individual was arrested for having a knife in his bag and is now restricted to bail curfew conditions stopping him leaving the house in the evening. We continue to work with parents, schools and support services to divert young people away from carrying knives. Some of this focus links in with our Anti-Social Behaviour priority helping to disrupt and deter groups gathering and identify and safeguard vulnerable individuals. If you have information that someone carries a knife in public, then please inform police or use Crimestoppers-uk.org 0800555111.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

The team have been busy identifying teenagers thinking it is a good idea to climb on shop roofs. A few have been arrested and are now on a curfew to remain indoors during the evenings. Business owners are helping to secure access points wherever possible and we are visiting schools and parents to help advise young people of the dangers. Patrols have increased in the ASB hotspot areas that include the Orchard Centre, Broadway Didcot and Wallingford Town centre and parks. Recently some of the suspects causing this ASB have thought it is a good idea to lie about their name and address. If they do this we can then arrest them using the Police Reform Act legislation and this is usually enough of a shock for them to provide the real details. With Halloween and Bonfire night upon us, you will see the team on foot patrol ensuring it is a safe event for everyone. We will also be visiting retailers with other partner agencies to enforce responsible selling of fireworks.

Retail crime

We are aware that there are shops and businesses under report for shoplifting. Therefore, it remains a key focus for the team is to increase our visibility especially in identified hotspots and engage with the community to identify persistent offenders and prosecute them. Recently we caught one of these persistent offenders red handed in Asda after monitoring his behaviour pattern. He was charged with multiple offences and remanded to court for conviction. We will be working with retailers over the next few months to introduce the DISC app, which allows retailers to share images of offenders between stores and to directly report incidents to the police. This month we will running Safer Businesses Action (SABA) week to prevent and detect retail criminality through proactive patrols.

Knife crime and drug use

There is a lot of national focus on reducing the numbers of people carrying knives. As a team, we take this priority very seriously and ensure that we conduct stop searches wherever possible. It has been used to good effect to disrupt ASB groups in Didcot and Wallingford. One individual was arrested for having a knife in his bag and is now restricted to bail curfew conditions stopping him leaving the house in the evening. We continue to work with parents, schools and support services to divert young people away from carrying knives. Some of this focus links in with our Anti-Social Behaviour priority helping to disrupt and deter groups gathering and identify and safeguard vulnerable individuals. If you have information that someone carries a knife in public, then please inform police or use Crimestoppers-uk.org 0800555111.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

The team have been busy identifying teenagers thinking it is a good idea to climb on shop roofs. A few have been arrested and are now on a curfew to remain indoors during the evenings. Business owners are helping to secure access points wherever possible and we are visiting schools and parents to help advise young people of the dangers. Patrols have increased in the ASB hotspot areas that include the Orchard Centre, Broadway Didcot and Wallingford Town centre and parks. Recently some of the suspects causing this ASB have thought it is a good idea to lie about their name and address. If they do this we can then arrest them using the Police Reform Act legislation and this is usually enough of a shock for them to provide the real details. With Halloween and Bonfire night upon us, you will see the team on foot patrol ensuring it is a safe event for everyone. We will also be visiting retailers with other partner agencies to enforce responsible selling of fireworks.

Retail crime

We are aware that there are shops and businesses under report for shoplifting. Therefore, it remains a key focus for the team is to increase our visibility especially in identified hotspots and engage with the community to identify persistent offenders and prosecute them. Recently we caught one of these persistent offenders red handed in Asda after monitoring his behaviour pattern. He was charged with multiple offences and remanded to court for conviction. We will be working with retailers over the next few months to introduce the DISC app, which allows retailers to share images of offenders between stores and to directly report incidents to the police. This month we will running Safer Businesses Action (SABA) week to prevent and detect retail criminality through proactive patrols.

Knife crime

Knife crime is a national focus in regards to reducing numbers of people carrying knifes and we have been reflecting that work locally. As a team we utilise our stop search powers where proportionate to search individuals for both knives and drugs. This also enables us to disrupt groups of individuals causing Anti-Social Behaviour. We have been working closely with schools, parents and support services to divert youths away from such crimes. November saw Operation Sceptre which is a national campaign around knife crime. Our work locally saw the team completing knife sweeps in local parks, conducting high visibility patrols and delivering knife crime talks in local secondary schools. Following the report of a knife seen in an alleyway locally, PCSOs from the team were able to respond quickly and the 6 inch carving knife was seized and disposed of. The team were able to secure a closure order for 3 months at an address concerning the use of drugs and criminal activity. December has seen an increase of high visibility patrols around licenced premises under the umbrella of Operation Marzipan. Drug swabs were taken in a number of the local pubs. There was clear evidence of drug use and dealing in two of the pubs visited and appropriate follow up measures are being put in place.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

Local work has continued, with assistance from schools in identifying individuals causing Anti-Social Behaviour and issuing them with ASB contracts. The team have seen a reduction in the number of reports received as a result. The Orchard Centre continues to be a Hot Spot with officers conducting regular high visibility patrols. The team were out on late evening patrols over Halloween and there was a significant reduction in ASB compared to the previous year. During November we took part in Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week. The Police tactical cycle team were out in force patrolling the town, as were the mounted section. The team have generated a variety of positive outcomes in regards to Anti-Social Behaviour with the issuing of Community Resolutions, Community Protection Warnings and Community Protection Notices to individuals both adults and juveniles. TRAIN, the local youth group, arranged a football match between young people who attend their provision and police officers. We continue to work towards building trust in our community amongst young people.

Retail crime

Local shoplifting crime is under reported so we have been making efforts to increase this and in November the Safer Businesses Action (SaBA) was set up in Didcot. Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, visited local retailers with officers from the team. The DISC system is now up and running allowing retailers to share images of offenders and report incidents directly to Police. Officers continue with their efforts to have a prolific shoplifter remanded to prison. He was charged with a number of offences and remanded to court. ASDA were having issues with school children visiting prior to and after school, causing ASB and committing shopliftings. The team worked with schools and ASDA to resolve the matter and there have been no further reports. A QR Survey has been completed with all businesses and retailers on The Broadway. This will allow us to collate data on what issues they experience and specific timings so that we can tailor our patrols accordingly.

Knife crime

Knife crime is a national focus in regards to reducing numbers of people carrying knifes and we have been reflecting that work locally. As a team we utilise our stop search powers where proportionate to search individuals for both knives and drugs. This also enables us to disrupt groups of individuals causing Anti-Social Behaviour. We have been working closely with schools, parents and support services to divert youths away from such crimes. November saw Operation Sceptre which is a national campaign around knife crime. Our work locally saw the team completing knife sweeps in local parks, conducting high visibility patrols and delivering knife crime talks in local secondary schools. Following the report of a knife seen in an alleyway locally, PCSOs from the team were able to respond quickly and the 6 inch carving knife was seized and disposed of. The team were able to secure a closure order for 3 months at an address concerning the use of drugs and criminal activity. December has seen an increase of high visibility patrols around licenced premises under the umbrella of Operation Marzipan. Drug swabs were taken in a number of the local pubs. There was clear evidence of drug use and dealing in two of the pubs visited and appropriate follow up measures are being put in place.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

Local work has continued, with assistance from schools in identifying individuals causing Anti-Social Behaviour and issuing them with ASB contracts. The team have seen a reduction in the number of reports received as a result. The Orchard Centre continues to be a Hot Spot with officers conducting regular high visibility patrols. The team were out on late evening patrols over Halloween and there was a significant reduction in ASB compared to the previous year. During November we took part in Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week. The Police tactical cycle team were out in force patrolling the town, as were the mounted section. The team have generated a variety of positive outcomes in regards to Anti-Social Behaviour with the issuing of Community Resolutions, Community Protection Warnings and Community Protection Notices to individuals both adults and juveniles. TRAIN, the local youth group, arranged a football match between young people who attend their provision and police officers. We continue to work towards building trust in our community amongst young people.

Retail crime

Local shoplifting crime is under reported so we have been making efforts to increase this and in November the Safer Businesses Action (SaBA) was set up in Didcot. Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, visited local retailers with officers from the team. The DISC system is now up and running allowing retailers to share images of offenders and report incidents directly to Police. Officers continue with their efforts to have a prolific shoplifter remanded to prison. He was charged with a number of offences and remanded to court. ASDA were having issues with school children visiting prior to and after school, causing ASB and committing shopliftings. The team worked with schools and ASDA to resolve the matter and there have been no further reports. A QR Survey has been completed with all businesses and retailers on The Broadway. This will allow us to collate data on what issues they experience and specific timings so that we can tailor our patrols accordingly.