Shop Theft – Scunthorpe Town Centre

10/01/2020

We have brought extra police patrols to the High Street area over the festive period as part of Operation Yuletide. Shops have been very positive about the increase in policing at their busiest time of year. A number of suspected shoplifters were arrested during the operation. We are glad to see that reports of shop theft have fallen 20% in the four months to December compared to the same period in 2018.

Our other work on shop theft:

- Our pilot evidence packages have now been used in 10 reports and led to 9 people being charged with shop theft. This month we have visited out top 3 stores for feedback on the pilot of our evidence packages. The security guards using the packages tell us that it is much quicker for them and is saving them time so they can be out front in their stores keeping shoplifters away. Our top 3 shop theft locations are using "fill-in-the-blank" statements and evidence labels so they can get evidence together as soon as a shop theft has taken place;

- We are in the process of signing up store managers to My Community Alert so they can get updates on what is going on in their area;

- We have visited West Yorkshire Police to learn about some of the cutting edge tactics they are using to reduce shop theft in their area;

- Working with managers from the 10 most impacted stores to design out crime. We have been really encouraged by many of our Town Centre retailers taking proactive action to mitigate their risks;

- The ShopWatch scheme is being changed to focus on preventing crime and disrupting or deterring offenders;

- Officers are completing regular patrols around the Town Centre - both in highly visible uniform and also plain clothes. Our patrols are also taking place with partner agencies to provide a comprehensive approach to tackling local issues;

We have seen some positive results with a number of offenders being prosecuted - you can read more here

Youth Anti Social Behaviour – Vue Cinema & Frodingham Road

10/01/2020

We continue to monitor the Vue Cinema area now that calls for service have decreased. We are aware of an older group of young people who are now attending the area to cause damage and public order offences. We will be issuing Community Protection Warnings with conditions not to enter the area and engage with support to reduce their reoffending.

Our plan is to:

- The team have sent out 31 warning letters, warning young people to stay out of an area they have been causing anti social behaviour in for 28 days. This has been successful as 80% of those young people have not come to our attention again. Calls for service at Vue Cinema have fallen from 48% of Town's ASB reports in the first two weeks of October to 23% in the first two weeks of November. 7 young people were also given an extended warning and parents given an indepth visit to dicuss how to stop this behaviour. Finally, 3 Community Protection Warnings have been issued to parents who's children have breached both their warnings.

- Refer young people causing persistent problems to the Anti Social Behaviour Panel Appropriate Behaviour Contracts, Parenting Orders and Civil Injunctions;

- Patrol Frodingham Road in the evenings to prevent and disrupt anti social behaviour;

- As part of Operation Topaz, our response to ASB around Halloween and Bonfire Night, we had two weeks of intense patrolling in the Vue Cinema and Frodingham Road areas. We undertook 3 patrols with a outreach youth worker, who was able to speak to several well known young people and give them advice and support. During the operation, three young people were taken home for being abusive in public, whilst 3 young people were taken home after concerns for their safety were raised. 1 young person was also stopped and searched after suspicious behaviour in Memorial Gardens.

If you see young people acting inappropriately or causing anti social behaviour then be sure to report it to the police on 101.

Anti Social Behaviour – Oswald Road

10/01/2020

In November we received reports of street drinkers causing a nuisance and acting in a disorderly manner on Oswald Road. We took action very quickly and one male was arrested on suspicion of breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and other offences and has been remanded in custody until his trial in January. We are working to obtain a second variation to the CBO to prevent reoffending in the town centre and get him the help he needs.

This is the same group who caused Anti Social Behaviour on Dunstall Street throughout August and September. Our plan included:

- In October the court granted a variation to a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) on one local man for causing anti social behaviour and public order offences on Dunstall Street. He was found guilty of breaching his CBO and sentence to 12 weeks imprisonment. He has now been excluded from the town centre (except to attend prearranged appointments) until March 2021. Businesses and shops along Dunstall Street now report a big decrease in issues with street drinking, rough sleepers, begging and disorderly behaviour.

- Two men, both known to drink in the street and behave in a disorderly way, were given formal warnings excluding them from the area for three months;

- High visibility targeted patrols, speaking to local business owners and listening to their concerns;

- #Humbertalking has been conducted down Dunstall Street and most business have signed up to this. This enables us to contact business with updates;

- We have co-ordinated with partners from housing, environmental health, drug and alcohol services and safer neighbourhoods to provide support to rough sleepers and make the area cleaner and tidier.

If anybody has information about those responsible for these issues, please contact us through the 101 number or alternatively, by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers (0800 555 111).