Shoppers and businesses in Thetford will see increased police patrols and local action to tackle town centre crime this summer, as the Home Secretary launches a major blitz to support safer high streets.
The blitz – which will see officers in town centres during peak times – has today been welcomed by Terry Jermy, Labour MP for South West Norfolk.
More than 500 towns across the UK have signed up to the Home Secretary’s Safer Streets summer crackdown, including in Thetford.
The towns will see increased police patrols and local action to tackle anti-social behaviour. Increased police presence will be accompanied by stronger prevention and enforcement action by police, councils, and other local partners.
Under the previous government, shoplifting soared to record levels, with a staggering 70% increase in their last two years in office alone. The latest statistics show a 27% rise in shoplifting in Norfolk, with a 20% rise nationally.
Terry Jermy, Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk, said: “I welcome this crackdown, which will make a real difference to my constituents in Thetford and those who visit our town centre. We all deserve town centres to be free from anti social behaviour. As part of this Government’s Plan for Change, we are putting 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs back on the streets by the end of the Parliament.”
The summer initiative will also support young people, making sure there are activities across the 500 towns for young people to be involved in throughout the holidays.
The Home Office, alongside police, retailers and industry are also launching a new Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy, which will use shared data to assist in disrupting not just organised criminal gangs, but all types of perpetrators including prolific offenders who are stealing to fund an addiction and ‘opportunist’ offenders.
Creating thriving town centres where businesses and communities can flourish supports the government’s growth mission, raising living standards, supporting local economies and supporting communities.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“High streets and town centres are the very heart of our communities. Residents and businesses have the right to feel safe in their towns. But the last government left a surge in shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour which has left too many town centres feeling abandoned.
“It’s time to turn this round, that’s why I have called on police forces and councils to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime, to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished.
“The fact that Thetford town has signed up shows the strength of feeling locally on this issue.
“Through our Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change, we are putting officers back on the beat where you can see them and making our town centres safe again”.
