Government has announced a nationwide crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour this winter as police, councils, and businesses unite to protect shoppers, retail workers, and Christmas revellers.
To keep communities safe over the busy Christmas period, police will use hotspot patrols, quick visible enforcement, and locally tailored approaches, working closely with businesses and community groups to clamp down on shop theft and street crime across hundreds of town centres.
The Winter of Action builds on the Safer Streets Summer initiative, which took place in almost 650 town centres and resulted in over 16,000 arrests and fines, mostly for shop theft and anti-social behaviour.
The summer also saw targeted visible patrols up almost 20% compared to the previous year, largely in town centres.
This boosted public confidence in town centres. According to a IPSOS national survey, levels of anti-social behaviour witnessed or experienced in town centres reduced over the summer.
There was also a fall in concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime deterring people from visiting their local town or city centre.
“Shoplifting and anti-social behaviour are tearing at the fabric of our communities,” said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
“This winter we are launching a crime-fighting blitz with police patrolling our high streets across the country. This is part of our wider plans to fight crime with 3,000 more police on the beat by the spring to catch criminals and make our communities safe.”
Greater Manchester Police saw shop theft and other forms of theft reduced by 20% from last year, street crime down by 11%, and serious violent crime down by 8% as part of their Safer Streets Summer activity.
Violent crime nearly halved in Weymouth town centre thanks to dedicated patrols that began during the summer months, with increased activity taking place in the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights.
Hex zones
December will also see the police deploy a new tool in their fight against knife crime, targeting hyperlocal areas that are most impacted.
These special zones, known as HEX due to their hexagon-like shapes, are roughly the size of 10 football pitches and are identified using police intelligence and local data to focus resources where they matter most.
By focusing on these zones, police and local partners can work together on detailed problem-solving to tackle the root causes of crime and prevent violence in locations across towns and cities.
HEX pilots are commencing in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Peterborough, and London, focusing on locations where knife crime is most prominent.
In Birmingham, HEX activity is targeting hotspots around the city centre and key transport hubs, while in Leeds and Liverpool the approach is being tailored to areas with persistent youth violence and weapon carrying.
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