Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has secured nearly £1.5m to support the continuation of ‘hotspot' enforcement patrols across the force area to crackdown on anti-social behaviour and serious violence.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC has consistently lobbied the Government to provide further funding following the resounding success of the project, which has seen Serious Violence fall by 10.5% and ASB by 15% in hotspot areas (compared to last year).
The Government has confirmed the Commissioner has successfully secured a further £1,473,113 to fund preventative action, including extra patrols, engagement and problem-solving work by the force's dedicated ‘hotspots' team consisting of nine officers.
Figures show that more than 17,600 hours of extra patrol time by police and partner agencies have been clocked up in the last year.
Alongside reductions in both Serious Violence and ASB in hotspot areas, patrols by partners increased by 25.7% between July and September 2024 while 11 problem-solving plans are currently in operation.
Additionally, a new ASB Case Management System is being procured to manage risk, perpetrators and victims more effectively.
Rupert Matthews said: "These proactive patrols are helping us to both get to the roots of long-running problems in our communities to prevent problems and to identify perpetrators who could turn their lives around with support and intervention - for this reason, the really are achieving solutions.
"I know from the residents and businesses I meet how much ASB and serious violence can impact mental wellbeing and increase fear of crime. Our communities deserve respite from these problems and to see police and partners working seamlessly together on the streets to protect them. This is what this project is all about.
"But as I state very clearly in my Police and Crime Plan, prevention is everything; the harder we work to address the root causes offending, the safer and more prosperous our communities will be in the long run. This is why I wholeheartedly back this project because it balances the two perfectly."
The ‘hotspots' project has drawn involvement from several key organisations including Ashby NTE Street Wardens, St Johns Ambulance, City Street Wardens, Street Pastors, Business Improvement District (BID) Leicester, City ASB Wardens and Street Outreach.
