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

Communities nationwide 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 Aaron Sahota of Warwickshire Police has been working with his colleagues on a newly formed ‘gangs team,’ using organised crime strategies to tackle violent gang behaviour in his local area, Rugby. As part of this role, PC Sahota is working with The Prince’s Trust, a youth charity that helps young people get into jobs, education and training, to encourage gang members onto their programme and away from a life of crime.

PC Sahota said “I am particularly proud of my work on the gangs team and with Prince’s Trust, however there are countless other examples of proud moments during my time in service – from breaking down county lines to capturing violent offenders and safeguarding vulnerable people. None of these moments would have been possible without working with equally dedicated, hard-working colleagues. Warwickshire may not be the biggest force in the country, but we punch well above our weight.”

PC Harry Clay of Warwickshire Police also worked with his neighbourhood policing colleagues to crack down on county lines drug dealing, as part of ‘Operation Switch’. Intelligence based proactive patrols led to several arrests of out-of-town suspects who were involved in county lines. As well as this, increased partnership work with local authorities such as the district council housing, social services, and charities including the Salvation Army allowed greater safeguarding measures to be put in place to protect vulnerable adults who are targets for ‘cuckooing’. This is where a county lines gang will use a vulnerable adult’s address to conduct their criminal activity, often via threatening means.  

PC Clay said: “Community engagement and public perception is a vital part of the work police do to decrease crime and ASB. I am fortunate to be part of the great work that is being done under Operation Switch.”

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’s National Graduate Leadership Scheme is part of the Home Office’s police uplift programme, and supports the wider recruitment of student police officers to protect and serve communities across England and Wales. Warwickshire Police are also currently recruiting directly through their force apprenticeship programme.

Police Now has recruited a total of 1,830 officers across 33 forces in the UK, including Warwickshire Police. Chief Constable Martin Jelley QPM (Queen’s Police Medal) has invested in his communities having partnered with Police Now for the past four years, with eight police constables and nine 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 on Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme in Warwickshire in 2019, one in three (33 per cent) identified as coming from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background.