Towcester

Road Safety & Road Traffic Offences

Dec - Mar
As a Neighbourhood Team, we have responsibility for engaging with all of our local schools across all year
groups. We receive many reports relating to the use of vehicles around school times from the public and schools themselves. These reports are followed up by ourselves, or by us linking in with partner agencies and enforcement will be undertaken where appropriate. We acknowledge that many schools are located within tight road networks and that societal changes are often the cause of sheer volume of traffic utilising these to get children to and from school. Therefore, much of our work in tackling issues will be educationally based in order to disrupt and deter issues. Enforcement will be a last resort but is always an option for persistent issues.

In December 2023 during the Force’s Drink and Drug Drive campaign, an operation was carried out during a night in South Northants. This resulted in 27 people submitting to breath tests, 3 arrests for drug drive, disqualified driving and handling stolen goods (diesel). 18 offences were
identified, 5 vehicles seized and a quantity of stolen property recovered. For anyone believing that it is unfair Police targeting motorists clearly this proves that notion to be misguided. Criminals use our road network and drive vehicles also.

Vehicle Crime

Dec - Mar
Nationally there is a trend in stealing load and diesel from HGVs parked up overnight. Currently these offences are low in number in South Northants and affect major trunk road predominately. Thefts of tools from vans is more problematic and officers aim to follow up all offences of theft from a motor vehicle with a call or visit to the victim, completion of any CCTV enquiries, house to house where appropriate and a media report for witnesses. These offences are opportunistic in nature and hard to second guess where they may occur.

Vans are a particularly vulnerable target for stealing tools however these types of vehicles are parked in most streets and activity around them doesn’t always draw attention. We encourage van owners or operators to invest in lockable options for items within the van and consider marking
tools to make them less attractive for onwards sale.

Rural Crime

Dec - Mar
The rural crime team has seen a much quieter start to 2024 than 2023 with far less thefts and rural crime activity happening. We have noted an increase in plant machinery thefts and building sites are proving favourable.

The team have been busy with numerous warrants alongside the RSPCA for animal welfare related incidents as unfortunately we are seeing an increase in people abandoning their animals or just not caring for them.

We have had several arrests for rural crime which are progressing at this time and cross border working with our neighbouring forces where we see offenders committing crime across several counties.

We have delivered training inputs to all the young farmer groups across the county which have been well received. We have also been on training inputs with the other regional forces in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire on wildlife crime matters and to the LAMMA show at the NEC where we build working relationships with other forces and manufacturers as well as engaging with our own rural community who attend the event.

We have recovered several stolen items and returned them to their owners and are continually developing intelligence around offenders. We’ve also had several reports of
livestock worrying and where we had a particular problem which resulted in a warrant being obtained and the dogs seized and eventually rehomed.

We will continue to support the rural communities through attending events and being visible and ask that any information no matter how small you may think it is,
report it as it may be the missing part to a wider problem.

The new priorities for this period April 1 2024 to July 2024

•Road Safety & Road Traffic Offences
•Vehicle Crime
•Burglary