Clear Hold Build initiative targets Spring Boroughs to tackle crime and support communities

A dedicated police and partnership initiative is now focusing its efforts on Spring Boroughs, Northampton, as part of a continued drive to reduce violence, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Clear Hold Build programme, which has already delivered positive results on the Bouverie estate, has moved into the area with targeted activity led by Northamptonshire Police and supported by a network of local partners.

The initiative follows the Home Office’s Clear Hold Build model – a nationally recognised approach designed to tackle serious and persistent crime while strengthening communities through long-term partnership work.

Spring Boroughs has been identified as an area that would benefit from this coordinated, multi-agency approach. A dedicated policing team from the Northamptonshire West Local Policing Area, led by Sergeant Ben Frost, is working closely with West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), the local Community Safety Partnership (CSP), and other partners such as housing providers Viola Housing, and S2S, a local charity supporting individuals affected by drugs and alcohol.

Enforcement activity

Sergeant Frost said: “We are currently in the early stages of the Clear phase, where our focus is on robust enforcement activity to disrupt crime and target offenders who are actively causing harm in the area. Our aim is to make Spring Boroughs a safer place by tackling the root causes of crime and anti-social behaviour.”

“As part of this work, we’ve already carried out a series of enforcement actions, including executing search warrants, making arrests, seizing weapons and pursuing closure orders for properties linked to criminal activity.

“Enforcement is only one part of the approach though – regular and direct engagement with the local community also plays a central role in shaping policing activity.

“The information we receive from local residents is absolutely vital. It helps us understand the issues that matter most to the community and ensures we can target our activity where it will have the greatest impact.

“This is about more than enforcement. By working closely with our partners and the community, we are building a long-term plan to prevent crime, reduce harm and create a more resilient neighbourhood.”

The Clear Hold Build team, made up of five dedicated officers, is working alongside neighbourhood policing colleagues to deliver a proactive programme of engagement and prevention.

Joint patrols with council Anti-Social Behaviour Wardens have already been carried out in known hotspot areas. Partners are also assessing wider environmental factors – such as street lighting – to identify improvements that could help deter crime and increase public confidence and feelings of safety.

Prevention and education

Alongside enforcement activity, the initiative will also focus on prevention and education. This includes providing advice and awareness sessions around issues such as county lines drug activity, helping residents recognise the signs of exploitation and understand how to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly young people.

The key priorities for the Spring Boroughs Clear Hold Build project, shaped by community feedback and crime data, are:

• Reducing drug-related harm
• Tackling anti-social behaviour
• Preventing weapon possession
• Reducing violent offences

The initiative, known locally as Together We Solve, is also helping to strengthen community identity. Pupils from Spring Lane Primary School recently took part in a logo competition for the project, with Eleona announced as the winner. Safia and Zara Agata were named runners-up.

Sergeant Frost added: “It’s fantastic to see young people getting involved. Initiatives like the logo competition help build a sense of pride and ownership in the community, which is exactly what Clear Hold Build is all about.”

Residents are encouraged to play an active role in supporting the work by sharing information and engaging with their local policing teams.

To contact your neighbourhood policing team, visit www.northants.police.uk/yourarea, enter your postcode and select the “Contact us” tab.

For updates about crime and policing in your area, sign up to Northamptonshire Talking at www.northamptonshiretalking.co.uk.

To report crime or suspicious activity, call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or report online at www.northants.police.uk/ro. In an emergency call 999. To report crime anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.