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Monday 26 February
Coming to a door near you: Operation Shield returns
As part of our efforts to tackle criminality across our area, Operation Shield is back for another intensification period.
Our force-wide proactive initiative, Operation Shield, has today (Monday 26 February) relaunched to continue the focus on clamping down on crime in hotspot locations with the aim of identifying and targeting the most harmful criminals who prey on our communities.
Over the next four weeks, officers across our force area will be ramping up their work to detect criminals involved in a range of crimes, including burglary and antisocial behaviour. They will also continue to focus on protecting vulnerable people, by targeting sexual offenders and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Across the Humberside region, the team will be carrying out warrants to proactively seek and arrest criminals. They will also be seizing illegal items, including drugs and weapons with the aim of disrupting, and dismantling organised crime groups that have links to violent crime, county lines and drug related offences.
Chief Constable Paul Anderson said: “I am pleased to say that Operation Shield is recommencing to support our relentless pursuit of criminals who think they can commit crime in our force area.
“Last year saw the successful launch of Operation Shield with more than 900 arrests, and nearly 300 people charged. This new month-long intensification period is a continuation of this, developing the previous work done by our officers.
“There will be a strong focus not only on enforcing the law, but also on the preventative work that the force is taking part in across a variety of dedicated operations.
“The Operation Shield team has expanded further and we now have even more resources available to them. Our dedicated teams will be working tirelessly to tackle a wide range of criminality, alongside not only each other but also multi-agency partners.
“We remain committed to keeping our communities safe, I am confident that this period of Operation Shield will be community led.
“Having listened to what the public have been telling us, we will be enforcing bespoke operations that relate to the specific issues within local areas including Operation Yellowfin and Clear, Hold, Build.
“We have already seen the impact that Operation Shield has had, not only for those who live in the area but also those who visit and work across it, and we are excited to bring it back for another intensification period.
“As part of the operation, our local communities can expect an increased policing presence from both uniformed and plain clothed officers, particularly in areas that have high crime rates and where antisocial behaviour is prevalent.
“We will always do everything that we possibly can to put those who have committed crime in Humberside before the courts, to make sure that our residents feel safe and that justice is achieved for any victim of crime.”
We would always encourage you to report any offences to us so we can build the bigger picture and take appropriate action.
You can provide information to the charity Crimestoppers completely anonymously on 0800 555111, or on their website www.crimestoppers.org.uk
To keep up with the latest Op Shield updates, make sure to follow @HumberBeat on Facebook and Twitter and follow #OpShield. You can also sign up to receive My Community Alerts to find out what is happening locally at https://www.mycommunityalert.co.uk/.
Catch up on all the #OpShield action from last year by visiting our #OpShield playlist on YouTube.
As Operation Shield continues, our local Neighbourhood Policing teams continue to work to target those who commit crimes across within our force area to make our communities safer.
Our Neighbourhood Policing teams work with one goal in mind – to make our communities safer and stronger through the use of community engagement and early intervention with a focus on crime reduction.
Based over two stations, the Beverley and Haltemprice Neighbourhood Policing team are made up of a total of 25 officers with one Inspector, two sergeants, nine police constables and 13 police community support officers. They are also supported by a number of Special Constables who assist with priorities across the area and provide increased visibility.
Across the team, they have specific areas which they are assigned to working closely with to help develop relationships in the community.
We spoke with Inspector Matt Wilson to understand what it is like working as part of the local neighbourhood team across Beverley and Haltemprice, and how the work they are doing has an impact throughout Operation Shield.
He said: “As Operation Shield is focusing on previous feedback given by the community, our area is utilising the development of operations like Operation Yellowfin to help tackle the crimes which we are seeing in the community.
“Within our local area, we are aware of issues with quad bikes, off road bikes and mopeds. With the help of resources from Operation Yellowfin, we have been able to hold days of action in partnership with our Specialist Operations Unit. These days are all about catching or disrupting offenders and providing the public with reassurance. We want them to know that we hear their concerns and, with help from the information that they provide to us, we are taking action.
“In the coming weeks, we intend to continue with this work alongside officers from Patrol and our Specialist Operations Unit to clamp down on these offenders. Our aim is to take them, and these bikes, off our roads.
“Whilst my team have their own areas which they work closely with, the team do work together as one to ensure we are making our communities safer. They not only know what is going on in their area but also across the area as a whole. If there is a particular issue, we come together to work as a cluster and make sure that our resources are targeted when they need to be to protect our communities from prevailing issues.
“We continue to act on the information that we receive from the public, including that which relates to drug related offences and have already carried out a number of warrants as a result. We know what impact such offences can have on an area, and those who live in the community. That’s why it is so important for us to listen to what our communities are telling us.
“We not only work for, but also work with the law-abiding members of our community to make the area a safer place to live. With help from the public in reporting information, we will target the criminal minority to make their lives uncomfortable.
“Criminal behaviour in our area will not be tolerated and those engaging in such behaviour are not welcome in our area.”
Special's Support Shield
Our Special Constables play a role in the force’s daily business, and that includes playing a part in the work of Operation Shield.
Operating across all areas of our region, the team are working together with officers to ensure the relentless pursuit of criminals who target the Humberside area.
The Special Constables form a team of volunteers, and they support officers across all the force area. They provide a crucial service to our force, and are an integral part to helping us protecting communities across the Humber region.
We spoke with Special Superintendent Shane O’Neill, who provided us with more detail about what the team are doing and how Specials are involved in the operation: “Throughout Operation Shield, the Special Constabulary will be assisting by providing our communities with a high visible presence within the force area, especially, across the Nighttime Economy.
“One of the most important things to us is to ensure that the public, who we serve, are safe. That’s why we are playing a part in making sure that we keep people safe around the bars and the clubs, whilst also helping to prevent disorder and supporting vulnerable people. This also has a wider impact on the community we serve because it means that there is less public disorder on our streets.
“As well as this, the Special Constables will be taking part in activity to catch high harm offenders. We are providing the team with additional officers from the Constabulary to help with arrests of these individuals. This extra support means that we can get criminals into custody, and off our streets quicker to prevent further offences being committed.
“We are really involved in this month-long intensification period. Our team are contributing to the action on a daily basis. We’re working hard to strengthen the resilience that has already been provided by the force, through increase public visibility which then means we are able to achieve a higher number of results.
“Across the month, Special Constables are required to work a total of 16 hours. What we notice when we are supporting specific operations, like Operation Shield, is the efforts our officers go to provide extra support. They go above and beyond, which demonstrates how committed they remain to supporting Humberside Police in their role.
“Having the opportunity to be a part of Operation Shield is a brilliant chance for our Special Constables to have a robust impact in tackling crime, particularly in the areas which they themselves may live in – they have that community connection when working hard to tackle those who harm our communities.
“Being a Special Constable is a direct way of making their community safer, and that is just one of the most rewarding things about working in the Special Constabulary.”
If you are interested in joining the Special Constabulary, you still have time to apply! The application window has been extended to Sunday 24 March.
Find out more and apply, here.
Op Shield officers have carried our nine warrants and arrested 77 people for a number of offences, including ten linked to domestic abuse suspects, in their first week of intensified action.
Monday 26 February marked the first week since the Op Shield teams made a gripping return, and our teams have been concentrating on targeting the most prolific of offenders and bringing justice to victims of all kinds of crimes. This has meant a large number of prison recalls, offenders locked up for breach of bail, and weapons seized as part of the action.
Chief Constable Paul Anderson spoke about the return of the operation, and said: “Op Shield is back, quite simply, because it’s going to be relentless in catching criminals.
“During the last period of action, over 900 arrests were made, with over 280 people charged as a result, and 230 people taken off the streets and remanded. But the work doesn’t stop there.
“Whilst it’s daily business for our teams, intensified periods of action such as this means we can muster our resources and showcase the work being done day in day out to make our communities safer and stronger.
“The real key to this operation is working with those communities, and our partners, because the more we talk to our communities, the more we understand what the issues are. The more we can positively act against it.
“We’re out, and we’re going to be coming through a door near you soon.
“You can expect many warrants, many doors going in, and some of the most dangerous individuals being take off the streets. And the results we’ve received during this first week are just a pre-cursor for what’s to come!
“If people are interested in Op Shield and what’s going on in your area, sign up to My Community Alert for fresh information.”
We spoke with Matt Wilson about his new role as the Inspector for Beverley & Haltemprice, and to find out about what he has been up to since he joined the team!
Having been a part of the force for over 16 years, Matt has seen many different areas of policing. He started as a PC patrolling the streets of Hull, and briefly Grimsby, and was promoted to Sergeant and then Inspector in that department. He also spent time working in the Community Safety Unit, Logistics and the Crime Management Unit before returning to his roots in patrol and now moving into Neighbourhood Policing.
Can you start by telling us a bit about who you are outside of the role?
“I’m a married father of two (but really, it’s three if you include our spoilt little Lab!). We’re a family who love to travel and see the world. I’m also a big football fan, having played in a Sunday league from a young age. I have followed Hull City since their days at Boothferry Park and have recently started taking both my children to watch!”
What are your priorities for the area, as the new neighbourhood Inspector?
“My number one priority is simple – to support, work with and get results for the law-abiding residents across the East Riding. We will continue to actively target, with our partner agencies, those who commit crime and antisocial behaviour and do all that we can to bring them to justice.
“It’s also a priority to act on the information that we receive from the public. They are our eyes and ears when we are not around. As much as we can be out and about, we can’t be everywhere all of the time so the support we receive from them is vital. During my time here so far, we have already executed a number of warrants because of the information provided by the public. I aim to continue to build on the relationship we already have with the community – you play a part in the bigger picture and that piece of information you provide might just be the missing piece we need.
“I also want my team to be more visible and accessible to the public. It’s important that the residents in my area know who their local policing team is so I am looking at new ways for us to engage with our communities.
“As well, I want to keep up the good the work the teams have been doing so far to educate those in our schools about crime and antisocial behaviour, and what effect their actions can have on their own lives and others. Building on the relationships between our officers and the children is important to develop that trust and confidence from an early stage.”
What key issues are you seeing in the area?
“I know that Beverley has experienced high levels of antisocial behaviour in the past. Whilst the levels are lower now, we will not rest on that. We will continue the good work, with our partners, to make sure that the young people in our area don’t get involved with criminal behaviour or help them to get out of it if they are already involved.
“We have seen a rise in burglaries in our area, so the team have been out and about giving crime prevention advice, following up with lines of enquiries and making sure that they are proactively targeting those committing such crimes with various tactics including plain clothed operations.
“There have also been issues with quadbikes, electric bikes and electric scooters in Hessle. The offenders may think that they will get away with this, but we are doing all that we can to make sure they are caught. With the help of Operation Yellowfin, we have already held a day of action with support from the Roads Policing team and our dogs section and further plans are being made to tackle the issue.”
What are the residents telling us?
“Whilst we are getting some information from our residents, we need more information from them. Be confident in telling us who is doing what. If you have seen somebody involved with criminal behaviour, tell us so we can act upon it.
“Please speak to us. Whether it is by calling our non-emergency number 101, or 999 in case of an emergency, emailing the local community team or popping in and speaking to us. That is why we are here. You can also follow the local area Facebook page to see what action we have been taking, as well as signing up for My Community Alert.
“If you have a community event, a regular gathering or something that you feel may benefit from an input from my team or simply want the chance to talk to your neighbourhood officer then please get in touch with us.”
Are there any noticeable moments you’ve had in the role so far?
“I’ve been really impressed with the team since I’ve taken over the role. They know their areas; they have a grip of what is going on and work incredibly hard. I’ve seen some great diversion work with young people, we’ve taken nuisance and uninsured vehicles off the road, recovered weapons, and carried out warrants across our area. It does not stop here. That work will continue.”
What is your final message to the community?
“Despite being a small team, working with the community and partner agencies means we can make a bigger impact to make the area a safe and pleasant place to live.
“I would also like to say to those who are involved in crime and antisocial behaviour, you are not welcome in this area, and we will not tolerate it.”
Since the return of Operation Shield, 13 people have been arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse offences and we remain committed to ensuring those causing the most harm in our communities are taken off our streets.
The Domestic Abuse Safeguarding and Investigation Team (DASIT) operate within the force to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are safeguarded, including children, and work to provide them with the best possible service they can.
We spoke with Detective Inspector Helen Collier to find out why Operation Shield is important to the work DASIT do, and what difference it makes for them: “Throughout the intensification period, Op Shield is really important for our team because of the relentless pursuit it takes in targeting high harm offenders who pose the most risk to our communities.
“As part of this, we are working closely with the arrest teams involved in Op Shield to prioritise locating and arresting perpetrators of domestic abuse across the Humberside region. The extra resources which are provided through the operation mean we can make sure that the resources are dedicated at getting those who cause the most harm to vulnerable people in our communities off our streets.
“Locating and arresting perpetrators of domestic abuse is one of the priorities for our force. Within DASIT, we are dedicated to supporting and safeguarding victims of abuse.
“We want to achieve the best possible outcome that we can for the victim, and that is why working with the Operation Shield team is so important for us. We are committed to doing all that we can to put these offenders before the courts, and we want our community to know that we will take domestic abuse offences seriously.
“During last year’s run of Operation Shield, we were able to target these perpetrators and reduce the number of offenders that were outstanding to get them off our streets. The impact of Operation Shield last year has been seen throughout the work we do, and that’s why we are going to continue with it – to make sure that high risk offenders are removed from our streets and unable to cause anymore harm within the community.
“We are passionate about the work we do, and we will continue to deal with perpetrators of domestic abuse robustly, but we will also work hard to make sure that all victims are safeguarded and supported.
“Operation Shield has already helped us arrest 13 following reports of domestic abuse, since it’s return last week, and so we will continue to target these resources effectively."