PCC joins officers for Op Hotspot patrol in Hemel Hempstead

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire has joined officers on one of their additional patrols as part of Operation Hotspot.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards joined Sergeant James Watson and PC Joe Watson in Hemel Hempstead town centre to get first-hand experience of the issues in the area.

Operation Hotspot is part of the PCC’s new £1m county-wide operation to get tough on anti-social behaviour and serious violence. The government funding, secured by his office, is providing extra patrols and increased police visibility to be focused on areas across each of Hertfordshire’s 10 districts.

In Hemel Hempstead, the afternoon patrol focused on a specific area which has a history of higher crime and anti-social behaviour. Mr Ash-Edwards and the Neighbourhood Team officers walked a route from the Police Station in Combe Street, through the town centre and Marlowes shopping centre, before patrolling the old town area.

No incidents were observed during the patrols but the officers’ presence was positively commented on by a number of members of the public.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Police & Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said:

“It was great to get out with local officers in Hemel Hempstead on patrol around those areas of the town centre which are affected by higher levels of crime and anti-social behaviour. I got to hear first-hand what issues residents and businesses are facing, how they are being addressed and what extra help is needed.

“I was pleased to hear some examples from the officers about how their presence in the hotspots was beginning to deter anti-social behaviour from some individuals which members of the public using the town centre had raised as a concern.

“Visible and responsive policing is essential to drive down crime and anti-social behaviour and Operation Hotspot is now delivering significant additional hours of high visibility patrols on top of regular policing operations and activity.”

Those areas included in Operation Hotspot are: Hertford, Hitchin, Bishop’s Stortford, St Albans, Rickmansworth, South Oxhey, Borehamwood, Watford, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City and Waltham Cross.

Using an evidence-based approach additional patrols will take place, alongside the regular police local operations. It will run as part of Hertfordshire Police’s work to monitor areas of high concern and deploy additional resources as required.