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Press release

Local Impact – Cambridgeshire

Police Now officers tackling crime and Anti-Social Behaviour across Cambridgeshire

Thursday 27 May 2021

Nearly 5,000 fewer anti-social behaviour incidents in areas with Police Now officers – equivalent to 21% fall

Substantial decrease in shoplifting, burglary and bicycle theft amongst other crimes

Police Now attracts and develops the most diverse group of officers in policing

Police Now officers are playing a vital role in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Cambridgeshire.

Communities where Police Now officers have been posted for the last 22-months across the force area have seen 4,984 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour compared to the same time period from October 2016 – equivalent to a 21 per cent drop.

Officers on Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme have been working alongside their colleagues within their local neighbourhood teams.

As well as the drop in anti-social behaviour, communities have also seen 2,276 fewer incidents of shoplifting– a fall of nearly a third (32 per cent). There were 1,068 fewer incidents of burglary – a fall of a fifth (20 per cent) – and 966 fewer incidents of bicycle theft, equivalent to a 15 per cent fall.

PC Katie Glass of Cambridgeshire Constabulary noticed an address on her patch that she suspected was being used as a base to deal Class A drugs. She linked a parked car at the property to a suspect and made a warrant application for the address and vehicle. The warrant led to the seizure of thousands of pounds-worth of cocaine and cannabis, thousands in cash and a number of mobile phones. Two suspects were arrested over the find.

PC Glass said: “Although I thought I had a good level of communication skills prior to joining Police Now, I have learnt much more around being empathetic and changing your approach depending on how receptive the person you are speaking with may be. If you can de-escalate a situation via the way you speak to people, this is a far better outcome than the alternative.”

Police Now’s mission is to transform communities by recruiting, developing and inspiring diverse leaders in policing.

Officers on Police Now’s programmes develop skills in leadership and problem-solving. They share a commitment to public service, fighting crime and inspiring social change alongside their colleagues.

Police Now has recruited a total of 1,830 officers across 33 forces in the UK, including Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Chief Constable Nick Dean has invested in his communities by partnering with Police Now for the past four years, with 52 police constables and 12 detective constables joining the force via this route.

Police Now consistently recruits more officers who are women or from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds compared to any other entry route into policing. Police Now recruitment data shows that of those starting the Police Now National Graduate Leadership Programme in Cambridgeshire in 2020, 18 per cent identified as coming from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background and nearly half (47 per cent) identified as women.

“We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact our participants continue to have within their local communities, and their commitment to driving positive change with their colleagues so that everyone in our society, including the most vulnerable, have a chance to thrive”.

David Spencer

Co-founder of Police Now and former Detective Chief Inspector

Impact in the community

Q&A with Police Constable Katie Glass

Neighbourhood Police Officer

Cambridgeshire Police

National Graduate Leadership Programme Participant

Police Constable Katie Glass stands in her police uniform

Police Now is trying to increase diversity in the force. Do you think having a force that better reflects the community it serves helps to bring down crimes like anti-social behaviour and why?

Absolutely, having diversity within the force can bridge the gap of communication between groups that feel they may not be able to engage otherwise, this can be from race to gender. 

What was the most important lesson you took from your training with Police Now that has enabled you to deal with crime / support your community?

Communication skill lessons. Although I thought I had a good level of communication skills prior to joining Police Now, through my public facing jobs such as retail and the citizens advice bureau, I learnt much more around being empathetic and changing your approach depending on how receptive the person your speaking with may be. If you can de-escalate a situation via the way you speak to people, this is a far better outside than the alternative. 

Have you implemented any new initiatives to reduce ASB or burglary crimes, or build confidence in policing in your community?

Through viewing intelligence every-day, I noticed a big issue with a particular address in my area that was being used as a ‘base’ to deal both Class A and B controlled drugs. 

During my patrols, I noted a car parked at the property and was able to link them to the suspect on intelligence descriptions. I then gathered the intel and made a warrant application for the address and vehicle that was supposedly been used as a shed. Shortly after obtaining the warrant, it was executed and a substantial quantity of cocaine and cannabis as well as cash and mobile phones were found within the vehicle parked behind the property which were forensically lifted for attribution. Meanwhile, the suspect was located and arrested after attempting to make off from officers and disposing of his backpack, containing cannabis and a quantity of cash. His girlfriend, who was driving the vehicle he was in, was arrested for being involved in the supply of controlled drugs.

My work resulted in a drug seizure valuing £15,000 as well as £7,000 cash seized. We also safeguarded the occupant of the address; we liaised with housing and placed her on an ABC, as well as receiving a CR for a small quantity of cannabis found in her possession at the time of the warrant. Both suspects offered a ‘no comment’ interview and I am now currently awaiting forensic and phone download results in order to attribute the suspects. Despite this delay, myself and my team have already made an impact on the area where the warrant took place for the better, as there are no more reports of dealing taking place.

Data references

Using data taken from Police Recorded Crime Statistics, the independently peer-reviewed figures compare the 22-month period from October 2016 to July 2018 before any Police Now officers had joined their local communities to the period when they joined from October 2018 to July 2020.

The data presented here is subject to limitations with Police Recorded Crime Statistics and methodology. More details on this are available at the bottom of the following Police Now webpage.

YOUR PRESS CONTACTS

For any enquiries please get in touch with us. 

VICKIE CUSTY

Head of Media and Communications

HANA TUCKER

Media and Communications Assistant Manager

Devon & Cornwall Police

Police Now | Devon & Cornwall Constabulary
cc-shaun-sawyer

Shaun Sawyer

Chief Constable

National Graduate Leadership Programme

Cohorts: 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
No. of police officers enrolled: 8

National Detective Programme

Cohorts: —— —— —— —— 2019 2020
No. of police officers enrolled:

Case studies: