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Seven months of Op Mastery: The initiative tackling crime and making Grimsby Town Centre a better place

5:30 pm, Thursday, 5th September 2024 - 1 month ago

General

A crackdown on nuisance and anti-social behaviour in Grimsby Town Centre is now in its seventh month – and it’s making a positive difference.

Named Op Mastery, and involving Humberside Police, North East Lincolnshire Council’s Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) team, the Environmental Enforcement Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE), the Rough Sleeping Coordinator supported by Harbour Place and Navigo and We Are With You, and Equans’ Civil Enforcement Officers and CCTV team, it is having a noted impact on the town centre.

With its aim to make the area a welcoming and safe place, the Op Mastery team has held the monthly days of action – with representatives from all the organisations in the town centre.

This month’s, held on Wednesday, 4 September, saw WiSE officers issue to fines for PSPO breaches, one for cycling and another for littering. Humberside Police officers issued 11 tickets for traffic offences and stopped one driver for having no insurance.

Additionally, Civil Enforcement Officers issued 8 tickets for parking infringements.

The first day of action was in March and has since gone from strength to strength, with actions including:

  • The use of a Tannoy system, that politely reminds people that cycling along Victoria Street risks a £100 fine. Visitors to the town have noticed a drop in people cycling and fines have been issued to deter cycling.
  • The Council’s Rough Sleeping team speaking to those who were sleeping on the streets, offering support which has been taken up.
  • A focus on illegal parking around Victoria Street. At the fourth Day of Action in July, 40 drivers were spoken to about various regulations.
  • Hi-vis patrols carried out in the area targeting wanted persons and those causing harm to the community

The days of action have seen nine people arrested for various offences and 50 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) given out to those found to be breaching the Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). This has included cycling in Victoria Street.

Humberside Police officers and a WiSE officer patrolling Victoria Street

Speaking about the success of these events, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, Cllr Ron Shepherd, said: “North East Lincolnshire Council and its partners are working tirelessly to make the town centre a more accessible, friendly and inviting place to be.

“With new projects such as the recently completed Riverhead Square and the upcoming regeneration of the rest of the town centre, we are moving ever closer to achieving this.

“The work done by ourselves, and our partners, during the days of action is the perfect example of how the work we do has a positive impact on the area.

“We’ve seen a reduction in ASB and in people cycling through the town centre and it’s no coincidence that this has all started the same time as Op Mastery was launched.

“I would like to thank those who have helped to get us to this point and I look forward to continuing the work we’re doing in Grimsby town centre and to seeing where we will be in another seven months.”

Enforcement officers issuing an FPN for breaching a PSPO on Victoria Street

Humberside Police Inspector Claire Jacobs said: “We continue to work relentlessly, alongside our partners, to ensure that Grimsby remains a fantastic place to live, work and visit.

“A big part of this is listening to the communities and hearing what their concerns are, taking appropriate action to address any emerging issues.

“This includes using our passive drugs dogs, as well as plain clothed and high visibility patrols, both to tackle crime and to offer reassurance to those in the area.

“We have seen positive results due to the action taken under Op Mastery, this has included arrests and charges, rehabilitation schemes put into place for offenders to prevent reoffending, and support mechanisms for victims.

“I am excited to see what the next steps hold for us and I encourage anyone with any concerns or information about crime to please get in contact via our non-emergency 101 line. In an emergency always dial 999.” 

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