Tackling drug dealing, dangerous driving and bad behaviour priorities for police in Ashfield

Insp Jon Hewitt, Nottinghamshire Police’s Ashfield district commander, has made the three issues his priority after listening to residents’ concerns.

A survey of more than 550 residents saw 43 per cent highlight dangerous driving and 38 per cent highlight drug dealing as their biggest concerns, followed by car crime, at 24.5 per cent, and anti-social behaviour, at 24.3 per cent.

Outling his priorities, Insp Hewitt said: “Locally we had an increase in theft from motor vehicles earlier in the year, but after the apprehension of the believed main offender we have seen the number of reported offences drop by more than a third and stabilise month to month.

“Conversely, we are starting to see an uptick in ASB reports which is many ways can invoke increased intimidation as we get into darker nights. Taking these factors in to account the third priority will be ASB.”

He said he is also ‘formulating a drug strategy” for the district.

Insp Hewitt said: “I am keen my teams pursue dealers and we prosecute wherever possible. I am also keen for premises to be closed to prevent addresses becoming blights on our communities.

“The government's latest 10-year strategy seeks to address the harm recreational drug use causes in that all drug purchases drive organised crime, targeting of vulnerable persons both in the UK and abroad.

“I would like our diversions to take this in to account and help support our partners in drug rehabilitation with increased referrals to remove the target market for drug dealers in Ashfield.”

His team are also working on a ShopWatch scheme for Kirkby, as well as stepping up patrols around Junction 27 of the M1 at Annesley, following complaints regarding anti-social driving.

He said: “We now have a tasking in place for patrols of the area and have a number of specific operations planned. There is a public spaces protection order in place in the area which allows the dispersal of those cruising in the area so education of those meeting in the area will now sadly move to enforcement, as the behaviour of a few is having a serious detrimental effect on both local residents and others passing through the area.”