Hatfield South NPT - Monthly Message - September

Good Morning,

First of all, I wanted to thank you for all your feedback and comments regarding the first edition of this newsletter, it has helped me structure it going forward and provide the content you would like to see. I am going to continue to update you with what we have been up to for the whole of the south, rather than send individual messages per area as I think it is useful to understand what the team get up to across the district each month. 

Before I get on to that, I am sure you have seen but the Knife Angel is arriving in Welwyn Garden City today. There is an opening ceremony at 17:30hrs and the monument will be in Welwyn Garden City Town Center for the entire month of October, I would recommend visiting if you have the time, it is a powerful anti-knife crime monument made up of 100,000 surrendered knives and events will be running each day it is here around knife crime and its consequences. 

Moving on to the South this is what my team have been up to for the month of September: 

Hollybush & Howlands

We have recently set new priorities for the Autumn period, one of these is ASB and its associated issues in the Mountway &  Mountway Close area of Welwyn Garden City. The team have already started working on these, with regular high vis patrols during hotspot times, stop searches being conducted and problem addresses targeted. If you have any issues surrounding these streets please continue to report this to us. We have also continued to target prolific shoplifters in the area, with several arrests made by the team and charges secured against those committing theft in the area.

Welham Green & Hatfield South

You may have seen on our social media, but earlier in the month the team discovered a large domestic cannabis factory in the Bishops Rise area of Hatfield. In total 204 mature plants were found hanging up to dry and around 2470 ‘baby plants’ were found growing in large tents downstairs. The estimated value of the seized cannabis is thought to be around £691,000. This is significant disruption to the illegal drug trade in the area which formulated from a call from a concerned neighour about the smell of cannabis coming from the address. Please continue to report matters like this to us, it shows that a small concern can lead to something bigger! A video of this discovery can be viewed on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Hatfield East

The second of our priorities in the south is drugs and related issues in a hotspot area within Hatfield East. The team have again started work on this, stop searching a dealer operating in the area and seizing Class A,B & C drugs from him and his address. Work will continue proactively targeting those using and dealing illegal drugs in the area so please continue to report to use any concerns you may have. 

Brookmans Park & Little Heath

PCSO's Sam Griffin and Jo Woods have been out and about in rural locations within this area, targeting fly-tippers and ASB motorcycle riders, we have gained a lot of intel about this and will be targeting offenders as we go on. With the local authority being the lead agency for fly tipping we continue to support them in tackling this blight on our rural community. 

Cuffley & Northaw

Jo & Sam have been out again targeting rural crime in this location, we have also conducted speeding operations around Cuffley after reports of problem areas were brouight in to us, I am pleased that we did not witness any speeding when we attended however I understand our presence can sometimes deter people from doing so. We will continue to do these operations throughout the South as and when a speeding issue arises. 

Some last things from me, we are continuing to see matters occurring in the area that either are not reported to us or not reported to us through the correct means. The cannabis factory mentioned above shows that what might seem like an issue that isn't worth reporting can lead to something bigger, if you contact us we will always review what you have said but it needs to be done through the correct channels. In an emergency always contact 999, for anything else you can either contact use via our non emergency number 101 or online via our website.

Finally, as the nights draw in we unfortunately see a rise in residential burglary. Something as simple as leaving lights on at home (or on timers) is enough to deter potential burglars from targeting your address. For full crime prevention advice please visit our crime prevention page on our website where there is lots of handy tips to keep your home safe and secure. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, 

Sgt Robert Wilson