A Hull East Neighbourhood Police Officer has partnered with other teams across the force to successfully tackle an increasing number of drug and alcohol related crimes, as well as anti-social behaviour in the Drypool Ward area.
Community Beat Manager PC Eggleton has been working on the approach the last few months, after local communities reported that areas were allegedly being taken over by drug dealers, as well as vulnerable people potentially being exploited too.
The force sought extra funding from the local Police and Crime Commissioner and buy-ins from key stakeholders such as Hull City Council, in addition to arranging public meetings to understand what the community itself needed.
PC Lee Eggleton said: “We then conducted extensive HumberTalking surveys to gain a deeper insight into what it was like to live in the area, what the issues were, encouraging them to report to us, and also using it as an opportunity to gather information to help us build a bigger picture around offending and look to put specific operational plans in place to tackle it.
“I then linked in with our force Crime Reduction Unit and teamed up with a Designing Out Crime officer to visit the area and make recommendations around how to visually improve it.
“In simple terms, the idea is that if we can make an area more attractive, we can help deter crime within that area and so the Designing Out Crime officers look at crime prevention techniques into the layout, landscaping, and physical security of areas to ensure that it is safe, secure, and sustainable for the future. In essence, designing out crime!
“The team advised changes or additions to be made including repairing fencing in the area which could have been considered a convenient way for criminals to move around undetected because they could avoid the main streets and therefore main CCTV cameras in the area.
“Together we looked at the layouts to ensure there was nothing that could further advantage a criminal, and this resulting in cutting foliage back allowing more natural light and less blind spots for individuals to evade police.
“We also cleared rubbish from gardens and streets.
“As part of our local policing daily patch walks, we focused around the Drypool Ward area and invited colleagues along from Hull City Council and the support agency ReNew to provide that additional support for drug and alcohol users in the area. From this we arranged weekly drop ins at a local community centre for people to attend.
“Uniform and plain-clothed activity also took place, and we utilised Passive Drugs Dogs to assist us on stop searches in the area.”
After this operation, 11 properties were searched on warrant on Arundel Close, Brazil Street, Durham Street, Denaby Court, Silkstone Walk, Sweet Dews Grove and Rustenburg Street, leading to the discovery of weapons, cash and class A and B drugs.
Seven people involved in an organised crime group were also sentenced for offences ‘including possession with intent to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to supply class A drugs, and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs receiving a combined total of 15 years behind bars’.
PC Lee Eggleton said: “Five Closure Orders were granted for properties on Colenso Avenue, Durham Street, Arundel Close, Hickleton Close and Denaby Court in connection with anti social behaviour and drugs crime, and two Civil Injunctions were placed on properties on Durham Street and Cudworth Grove.
“Thirteen suspected victims of cuckooing were also safeguarded as part of this work. Cuckooing is where criminals take over someone’s home to use it as a base for crime.”
Following these successful efforts to make the area a safe place, Humberside Police will continue to work with partners and engage with members of the public to ensure the long-term safety and happiness for residents across the community.