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 PC Ray Morris and PCSO Dan Lewis in Borehamwood 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 Borehamwood the afternoon patrol focused on a specific area which have a history of high crime and anti-social behaviour. Mr Ash-Edwards and the officers walked a route from the Police Station on Elstree Way along Shenley Road, taking in Borehamwood Shopping Park and Elstree & Borehamwood train station.

During the patrol the officers collected evidence on a suspect for a crime committed earlier in the day and updated retailers on work being done to tackle shoplifting.

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

“It was great to join an Operation Hotspot patrol and see for myself how this additional funding is being used in Hertfordshire. Importantly, this operation is about additional high visibility foot patrols and I know that is what the public want to see.

“Operation Hotspot is designed to provide a visible deterrent and help tackle anti-social behaviour, crime and violence in specific locations where it is higher than elsewhere in the county.

“While out on the patrol, it was really positive to see the strong relationships that officers had established with many retailers and the proactive work being done to tackle shoplifting. I also witnessed the officers collecting vital intelligence on a suspect believed to have been involved in a crime earlier in the day.

“I look forward to getting out with Operation Hotspot patrols in other parts of the county over the coming weeks."

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.