Officers in Hatfield have launched an operation dedicated to tackling anti-social behaviour, drugs and vehicle theft.

The operation is part of a Safer Streets multi-agency response to improving safety in the area. At the end of last year, David Lloyd’s office successfully bid for the Government’s Safer Streets funding for three projects which will improve the safety of women and girls and address serious violence, vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Now officers have already begun carrying out numerous stop searches whilst on the patrols and on Wednesday 3 January, they came across an abandoned scooter. The vehicle has been collected by the council and enquiries are being carried out to establish if it had been stolen.

In addition to the patrols, the area will see a wide host of other measures implemented to improve safety including upgraded CCTV and street lighting. Officers will also be knocking on doors to meet residents and encourage them to sign up to the neighbourhood watch system OWL.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire David Lloyd said: “This area has been affected by higher levels of anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and vehicle crime. I am glad to see additional measures being put in place to tackle this, thanks to government funding secured by my office.

“The tactics being implemented are based on Hertfordshire’s Prevention First model of policing, which aims to prevent crime by early intervention.

“We have seen from previous projects that Safer Streets initiatives can make a real difference in people’s lives. The additional CCTV combined with improved lighting and targeted police operations can successfully reduce fear of crime in communities.”

Welwyn Hatfield Safer Neighbourhood Team Inspector Amy Sheldon said: “Operation Oarlock will run for 15 months and it will include both high visibility and covert patrols.

“You can expect to see us in the area conducting sweeps of garages and looking for insecure locations, patrolling footpaths for abandoned or stolen motorbikes and carrying out stop searches and arrests where necessary.

“As part of this Safer Streets project, we are working with a wide variety of local partners including the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and housing providers. We are all committed to reducing and preventing crime in the area.

“Residents can also play their part in this project by reporting any concerns to police. If you spot someone acting suspicious or believe a crime may be in progress always call 999 so that we can take action.

“If you have information about a crime, you can call the non-emergency number 101. However, if you don’t feel comfortable making a report to the police, you can stay completely anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers instead.”

Operation Oarlock will see officers carrying out increased patrols in the following locations:

• Goldings House
• Goldings Crescent
• Link Close
• Wood Close
• Wood Vale
• Deerswood Avenue
• Northdown Road
• Garden Avenue
• Roe Green Lane
• St Albans Road West

Building on previous rounds of funding from the scheme the latest award marks a total of £2.6m of additional investment in Hertfordshire. This has been used to deliver key priorities in the Commissioner’s Community Safety and Criminal Justice Plan.

The latest award provides £781,274 from the Home Office plus £492,952 in matched funding contributions from local partners.