Council-funded police patrols deliver on challenging anti-social behaviour
Extra evening and nighttime patrols by Essex Police have been successful in tackling anti-social behaviour in the city centre. The first month of additional summer patrols, part funded by Chelmsford City Council, resulted in multiple arrests, safeguarding interventions, non-criminal incident resolutions and anti-social behaviour challenges.
Data-driven response provides support where it’s most needed
Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police funded the additional patrols to ensure Chelmsford remains safe and welcoming for everyone during the busy summer months. The council and the police worked together to schedule effective patrols based on data-driven evidence of which locations would most benefit from high-visibility foot patrols and at which times.
The joint investment covers officer over-time from 7pm until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays in July, August and September, focusing on areas where people tend to gather in the summer months: in the city centre and popular green spaces, such as Central Park, Bell Meadow and Chelmer Valley Local Nature Reserve.
Results so far paint a promising picture
During July, the first 248 hours of the project, the patrols were directly responsible for the following:
9 arrests
37 stop searches; 23 with positive outcomes (enforcement action taken)
5 community resolutions
1 knife confiscated
1 e-bike seized
1 vehicle stopped
2 youth interventions (safeguarding action taken)
On top of these results, officers have taken various actions for community safety: intervening in street drinking; challenging anti-social behaviour; resolving non-criminal incidents; receiving and reporting concerns of members of the public; engaging with licensed premises and; providing reassurance to visitors, residents and businesses.
There have been no serious assaults in the city during nighttime economy hours (6pm-3am), since the patrols began.
Funded by Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police
Essex Police and Community Safety Scheme accredited officers from Chelmsford City Council’s CCTV and Public Health and Protection teams work together year-round to make Chelmsford a safe place to live, work and visit – and are supported in this by a number of partners, including Chelmsford’s Business Improvement District, Chelmsford for You, and various members of the Safer Chelmsford Partnership.
Councillor Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, says the impact of these patrols shows that partnership working is best practice:
““Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police are constantly working in partnership with each other to ensure the city is a safe place for our residents and visitors.
Cllr Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Chelmsford City Council
“Crime is down almost 5% year-on-year in the city centre, but as a partnership, Safer Chelmsford recognises that we have a responsibility to improve the perception of safety as well as safety itself. We know many people feel safer when they recognise a trusted, local officer presence – so the council and our colleagues in the Chelmsford district policing team felt it was important to provide visible and active support where it was most needed.
“Reports show that the patrols have been effective so far and I look forward to seeing the results from August and any further impact they are still to make in September. Of course, the year-round work of our own dedicated officers will continue to deliver complementary community safety action and to support Essex Police wherever they can.”
Chief Inspector Aaron Homatopoulos, Chelmsford District Commander, said:
“"We want everyone in Chelmsford to feel safe and confident when they are in the city. These additional patrols have provided a visible presence in key locations and are helping us address anti-social behaviour and prevent crime.
Chief Inspector Aaron Homatopoulos, Essex Police
"The results demonstrate the positive impact the patrols are having. Alongside enforcement activity, officers have engaged with the public, provided reassurance and taken action to prevent issues from escalating.
"Visible policing remains one of the most effective ways to deter offending and improve public confidence. Our partnership with Chelmsford City Council enables us to take a coordinated approach to community safety, delivering benefits for residents, businesses and visitors."
