Knife crime and Drug Use

Knife crime continues to be a national focus to reduce the number of people carrying knifes. Police use their stop search powers wherever possible to disrupt and search individuals for both knives and drugs to prevent and detect crime. We work closely with partner agencies such as schools, housing and youth groups to divert individuals away from such serious crimes. In February, entry was forced to an address in Didcot where two females and one male were arrested, the male had a large quantity of drugs in his possession and was remanded at court, both females were bailed with conditions. In March, officers attended the abandoned Wilko’s in Didcot. Evidence was found of a cannabis grow in the building and two men were arrested, one of whom was remanded into custody. A three month closure order was secured from Oxford Magistrates for an address in Didcot due to the premises being used for drug taking and causing disruption to other residents. Local pubs have been given a guild to assist them with preventing and detecting drug use within their establishments.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

This remains a focus of the team. Due to the Anti-Social Behaviour in the town over a period of three weeks dispersal orders were put in place on two separate occasions enabling officers to direct a person who had engaged / was likely to engage in anti-social behaviour, to leave a specified area and not to return for a period of 48 hours. High visibility patrols have been increased around the Orchard Centre and other ASB hot spot locations in Didcot. Two youths were arrested for ASB and Section 5 public order. One of these was dealt with by way of a community resolution and our Youth Justice department are dealing with the other. The team has seized one vehicle and one E scooter recently. Three e- scooter warnings have also been issued. A football match has been planned for April between local police and a youth group. This will be a good opportunity for building trust and youth engagement. We continue to work closely with parents, housing association, schools and social services to resolve ASB issues using a variety of outcomes such as Community Resolutions, Community Protection Warnings and Community Protection Notices for both adults and juveniles.

Retail crime

The Disc App is now up and running allowing retailers to share images of offenders and report incidents directly. Officers continue targeting shoplifters. Recently one of Didcot’s prolific offenders was charged with a number of shopliftings in the local area and was given a custodial sentence. The team ran Operation Purchase in which we targeted retail premises and high visibility patrols were completed by officers. PCSOs were on patrol around Asda when two males came out of the store with alcohol that they had just stolen. The males made off but one was detained and arrested for shoplifting. He admitted the offence and will be charged. The second male was also detained and searched. On a separate occasion an observation message was passed by the police control room for a van which had been involved in shopliftings. The vehicle was seen by a PCSO. Officers attended and arrested the male on suspicion of shoplifting. He was wanted for three shoplifting offences and was in possession of stolen items. We will continue to work with retailers and deal with shoplifters robustly, bringing offenders to justice.