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

Communities where Police Now officers have been posted for the last 22-months have seen 38,772 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour compared to the same time period from October 2016 – equivalent to a 14 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 14,301 fewer incidents of criminal damage & arson – a fall of 13 per cent. There were 12,460 fewer incidents of burglary – a fall of 16 per cent – and 31,732 fewer incidents of theft, equivalent to a 14 per cent fall.  

PC Christopher Harrison of Derbyshire Constabulary recently remanded an individual in North East Derbyshire who had been involved in an excess of 60 anti-social behaviour incidents, including indecent exposure, harassing women, harassing one of his neighbours, obstructing pavements and throwing sharpened sticks outside a local retail store.

Attempts to issue warnings and official documents, or to refer the individual to mental health services, proved difficult as the man refused to engage with the police or other agencies. PC Harrison instead drafted a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) application and communicated with the courts each morning that the case was due to be heard, speaking with the relevant lawyer about the CBO. The man’s mental health was then more effectively managed and his medication was regularly reviewed.

PC Harrison said “So far issuing the CBO appears to have been a success, with no further incidents and the community commenting on how much healthier and pleasant this individual has become. I can’t take all the credit; not only was this a team effort between the North East Safer Neighbourhoods Team and Local Policing Unit as well as the council, I would imagine a large change to his behaviour was a result of his mental health being more effectively managed. That said, this is a win for the Police and a positive step in community engagement.”

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 Derbyshire Constabulary, who have partnered with Police Now for the past two years – with 10 police 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 nationally, 17 per cent of those joining Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme in 2020 identified as coming from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background and more than half (54 per cent) identified as women. 

PC Kavhita Sahota, also of Derbyshire Constabulary, said “It is important for members of the public to see a diverse police force. It shows inclusiveness and that everyone, regardless of their background, is welcomed into the police and that we as police officers will in turn treat everyone equally…The moment I had my attestation ceremony in front of my family, colleagues and senior officers in my force was the proudest moment I have had, all of my hard work and determination through training school was for that moment when I was officially welcomed into my force as a constable.”