Chief Constable hails Force performance after an overall drop in crime

Northamptonshire Police is the only Force in England and Wales to have reported an actual fall in overall crime in the year to June 2022, new figures reveal.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows overall crime nationally rose by an average of 12.9 per cent across police forces, but in Northamptonshire it fell by 0.6 per cent.

The news comes as it was confirmed yesterday that Chief Constable Nick Adderley’s contract is to be extended until at least August 2025.

Mr Adderley, who joined the Force in August 2018, shortly before the publication of a damning inspection report on the performance of the Force by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Services (HMICFRS), revealed the data at a performance briefing to members of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel

Mr Adderley also revealed that:

• Anti-social behaviour fell by 8.2 per cent, down by more than 9,500 incidents
• Knife crime fell by almost 16 per cent while in Wellingborough - where Op Revive, a targeted campaign to tackle those carrying knives – it fell by nearly 30 per cent.
• Arrest rates for domestic abuse have risen steadily year on year to 35.2 per cent, a significant improvement on the previous 12 months
• And a clear proactive strategy to tackle Serious Organised Crime has led to more firearms being seized, large number of drug factories being closed down and 16 County Lines drugs groups being broken up

All these crime types were identified as the Chief’s Matters of Priority in 2021-22.

He said: “I’m really pleased to say that Northamptonshire Police is fast being recognised as one of the most progressive Forces in the country. These figures come against a backdrop that we are of one of five forces rated as good in terms of our crime data recording so people can be confident this ONS data is wholly accurate.

“I made it clear when I took over that I wanted Northamptonshire Police to be a proactive Force that goes out and deals with these issues when they happen and that’s exactly what we are now doing.”

Significantly, the Force has climbed from 34th to eighth in a league table of Forces in terms of its ability to detect crime, a step change from 2018 when HMICFRS judged the Force was unable to investigate crime.

Mr Adderley was also able to report continued success in the fight against burglary across Northamptonshire with an 11.6 per cent fall in residential break-ins and a 14.1 per cent drop in commercial burglaries.

The official data shows that residents in Northamptonshire are now less likely to be a victim of crime than most parts of the country in a county where the population has grown by 6.3 per cent, a rate significantly higher than the national average.

Overall, violent crime accounts for 45 per cent of all offences recorded by the Force, one third of which is related to domestic abuse. However, the number of violent offences recorded last year actually fell by two per cent in 2021-22, placing Northamptonshire Police second in the performance table of 43 Forces.

Theft, which continues to fall, makes up around one in every four crimes recorded by Northamptonshire Police

Earlier this year, the Chief announced his Matters of Priority for the next three years and was able to update the panel on how Northamptonshire Police is making real progress against tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Serious Violence, Serious and Organised Crime and Drug Harm, including:

• 90 per cent victim satisfaction levels in cases of domestic abuse and a programme of prevention activity in the county’s night-time economy designed better to protect women and girls
• 1,294 knives taken off the streets in the last three months and a high conviction rate for offenders
• Significant numbers of firearms seized and more than 130 people safeguarded from modern slavery
• Significant falls in anti-social behaviour and residential burglary, both of which have close links to drug harm

The Chief was also able to share the highlights of 12 weeks of targeted action during the summer which resulted in significant seizures of drugs, cash, weapons and mobile phones linked to drug lines, all resulting in a large number of arrests and intelligence gathering going forward.

He revealed the overall scale of the three-month surge in activity, including

• 22 firearms and 32 weapons seized
• 39 cars, 127 phones and 1,486 drug seizures made, all linked to criminality
• £270,000 in cash confiscated
• 34 warrants executed resulting in recovery of high value vehicles, plant machinery and clothing
• 181 arrests made, including organised crime group (OCG) nominals
• 16 County Lines broken up
• 55 knives surrendered via knife bins
• 76 vulnerable individuals visited and supported

In addition, Mr Adderley also took the opportunity to reassure the panel that steps were being taken to address the discrepancy in the funding of Northamptonshire Police in comparison with other police forces of a similar size.

And pointing to national concerns around police misconduct issues, the Chief said investment had been made to improve vetting and to boost resources in the Counter-Corruption team to root out officers and staff who cross the line.

Mr Adderley also highlighted how the Force is now the youngest in the country and will remain so until 2029, but this presented opportunities not least at a time when policing generally was utilising technology to unprecedented levels.

Mr Adderley added: “I felt it was important to give the panel a briefing so they can see how we are performing as we move towards another HMICFRS inspection in 2023. I know there is still work to be done, I’m more than aware of that, but thanks to all the hard work of police officers and staff we are absolutely going in the right direction in terms of delivering our key aim to fight crime and protect people.

“I was delighted this week to have been given the opportunity to remain as your Chief Constable and I will continue to lead this Force on its improvement journey.”