Hotspot policing linked to falling crime as Hertfordshire passes 50,000 patrol hours
Officers have completed 50,846 patrol hours under Operation Hotspot
Intelligence-led hotspot policing across Hertfordshire is being linked to a drop in crime and anti-social behaviour, as officers pass a major milestone of more than 50,000 hours of visible patrols.
Operation Hotspot, funded by the Police & Crime Commissioner’s office, places officers in areas identified through intelligence as having higher levels of violence, anti-social behaviour and theft-related crime. The aim is to combine visible patrols with enforcement and prevention work in town centres and neighbourhoods.
Police figures show crime and anti-social behaviour in targeted areas fell by 14.5% in the first year of the programme, with reductions continuing into year two.
Since May 2024, officers have completed 50,846 patrol hours under the operation. In the second year alone, they recorded 370 arrests, carried out 654 stop searches, used anti-social behaviour powers 1,646 times, and seized 57 knives. They also recovered drugs, stolen goods, corrosive substances and other offensive weapons.
The operation has also supported prevention work, including CCTV upgrades, mobile CCTV units, knife amnesty campaigns, retail crime initiatives and anti-social behaviour deterrent measures in hotspot areas.
Jonathan Ash-Edwards said the programme is delivering clear results. He said: “Passing 50,000 hotspot patrol hours is a major milestone and demonstrates the commitment to delivering visible policing and cracking down on crime across Hertfordshire.”
He added: “Putting more police officer time into crime hotspots and town centres is not rocket science, it’s common sense and it delivers real results.”
Chief Inspector Mark Collins said the approach allows officers to focus where they are most needed. He said: “The additional patrol hours have led directly to arrests, stop searches, weapons seizures and the disruption of those responsible for repeat offending and anti-social behaviour.”
Police say the combination of visible patrols, enforcement and prevention work is designed to reduce both crime and the conditions that allow it to happen, with hotspot policing continuing to play a central role in local policing efforts.