Specialist team charges over 700 crimes in Peterborough and Fenland
Crack police unit marks first anniversary with substantial crime charges
A dedicated police group has seen significant success in its mission to tackle prolific crime in Peterborough and Fenland, making 262 arrests and charging individuals for 731 offences in its first year of operation.
The northern spree offender team launched last July, aiming to support the retail sector by focusing on frequent offenders in the region. This initiative followed the favourable outcomes observed in a pilot programme executed in the south.
The team has operated closely with neighbourhood policing units, acquisitive crime specialists, integrated offender management facilities, and partner organisations such as Peterborough Positive, the city's Business Improvement District (BID).
Detective Sergeant Rich Seston heads the initiative, with officers forging alliances with local businesses to address the problem of underreporting retail crime.
Enhancements have been made to the Disc software platform, enabling BID members to securely share intelligence and communicate directly with police.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris O’Brien, specialising in retail crime, praised the collaboration between the team and Peterborough Positive.
"I am proud of the hard work of the team and Peterborough Positive in their joint work to enhancing the Disc platform. It now allows incidents to be reported directly to us, together with business impact statements and witness statements. This means we can promptly start our investigations and work to identify those involved."
Detective Inspector Tim Archer, overseeing the team, expressed pride in the group's achievements over the past year.
"I am incredibly proud of the team’s achievements over the past year, particularly their ability to work proactively and pinpoint emerging spree offenders, acting quickly to make an arrest and put them before the courts. Going forward into the next year, the team will continue to strengthen their relationships with the retail community and partner agencies, as well as apprehending the spree offenders across the district who have such a significant impact."
The team's efforts signal a proactive approach in tackling spree offences and supporting local businesses through cooperation and innovative solutions.