New local priorities set for Hitchin Urban

Dear Resident

Over the past few months, Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) across North Herts have been working hard to tackle their local policing priorities - the issues that residents said were causing them the most concern.

NPTs work alongside partner agencies to focus on solving long and short-term neighbourhood issues, such as anti-social behaviour, theft, speeding and drug-related crime.

The NPT teams in North Herts set local policing priorities every four months, providing a specific focus on the issues that residents have raised through surveys, and an analysis of other data.

The dedicated teams of PCs and PCSOs will work alongside partners to tackle the issues, through an increased police presence, engagement events and targeted enforcement.

Hitchin Urban

During the last period the following issues were addressed:

•         Checks on LGVs and waste carrying vehicles in Hitchin Urban. The team have undertaken numerous patrols and related activity on routes to local industrial estates to ensure that drivers are complying with relevant legislation. 

•         E-Scooters throughout Hitchin Urban Area. Officers have conducted multiple patrols and enforcement activities targeting the unlawful use of e-scooters throughout Hitchin Town. This has resulted in multiple seizures and, where appropriate, enforcement action taken against riders. 

•         Speeding on London Road B656. Numerous patrols in this location have been conducted with the number of vehicles identified as speeding minimal, however where appropriate advice has been provided to drivers. 

The following priorities have now been agreed for the next four months:

•         Speeding on Bedford Road (A600). The stretch of Bedford Road between Redhill Road and Turnpike Lane has been identified as a location of concern for speeding vehicles by the local community. We will be conducting speed enforcement activities in this location over the coming months. 

•         E-Scooters and E-Bikes in Hitchin Urban. Once again, this issue has been highlighted in the recent public consultation process. We will continue our efforts to address this issue. 

As well as the NPT, North Herts is also policed by response officers who respond to emergency calls, and detectives in CID who investigate crimes such as burglary, robbery and assault. In addition, we can utilise officers from central teams which work countywide and include our dedicated sexual offences team, child protection teams and domestic abuse team.