Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Policing Priorities July – September 2025

As the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Bassetlaw, I am pleased to share our policing priorities for the next three months. These priorities are guided by our three core pillars of Neighbourhood Policing:
•Targeted Activity
•Community Engagement
•Problem Solving
We base our priorities on a wide range of information sources, including:
•Feedback from Beat Surgeries and Safer Neighbourhood Groups
•Community surveys via Notts Alert
•Crime statistics and analysis
•Input from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
•Partnership feedback and more
Neighbourhood Policing is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our communities. We remain committed to tackling all forms of criminality and anti-social behaviour (ASB) across the district.

Current Priorities
1. Drug Supply and Drug Use in Worksop
Drug supply and use causes significant damage to individuals and communities, contributing to addiction, public disorder, criminal damage, street drinking, and other forms of ASB. Drug supply will always be a priority for me and I will continue to tackle this by enforcement.
We rely on community intelligence to identify and disrupt drug networks. If we can take a dealer off the streets and secure a conviction, we absolutely will. Our teams also focus on identifying individuals involved in drug use and working with partners to provide support and intervention.
Operation Legacy is our offender management initiative, targeting individuals involved in drug-related criminality and ASB.

2. Rural Crime in East Bassetlaw
Rural crime is often underreported but has a serious impact on our communities. Bassetlaw covers over 250 square miles, and criminals often exploit this, particularly from bordering counties.
Crimes such as damage to fields and crops, theft of vehicles and equipment, and poaching can be devastating to isolated rural communities. We have officers trained in Rural and Wildlife Crime embedded within our Neighbourhood Policing Teams to address these issues effectively.

3. Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime in Worksop Town Centre
Worksop town centre has experienced a rise in ASB and related crime, primarily involving a core group of drug users and street drinkers. Offences include:
•Drug use and dealing
•Alcohol-related disorder
•Public order offences (e.g., swearing, threatening behaviour)
•Criminal damage and violence
Operation Leadership is our problem-solving initiative focused on identifying and managing individuals who cause harassment, alarm, and distress in the town centre.

If you have concerns or information that could help us address these priorities, please get in touch or attend one of our local Beat Surgeries. Your voice matters, and together we can make Bassetlaw safer.

August 2025 Update

Below is the progress we have made on our priorities throughout August. I am really pleased with the progress made so far, with some significant arrests, prison sentences, diversion and partnership work.

1.Drug Supply and Drug Use in Worksop
Drug Supply figures are up 21% compared this time last year. Whilst crime going up is usually a cause for concern, drug supply figures go up only when we seize drugs and investigate a supply offence. This figure shows we have seized 21% more drugs this month than in August 2024; a good start.
We have executed a number of Misuse of Drugs Act warrants in the Worksop area and more are planned. Additional patrols have been stepped up in the Worksop area, including the town centre. We work closely with Bassetlaw District Council, with the ASB team and Street Wardens in tackling drug related crime such as shop theft and public order offences
Operation Legacy continues, with a number of cohort choosing not to engage with the help provided and have since been arrested and put in prison.
A number of the cohort have chosen to engage with us and partners, with one notable male doing very well in rehabilitation.

2.Rural Crime in East Bassetlaw
Progress is being made across our Rural East Bassetlaw. At this time of year, our hard working farmers are working flat out to provide the food and drink we all need. Sadly, our criminals will exploit this, and we often see a spike in offending, from hare coursers, machinery thefts and off road bikes and quads, damaging crops, footpaths, woodland and fences.
Our Rural Crime Prevention Officer has been hard at work, visiting farms and issuing cameras and CCTV to capture offenders, some of which we have began to share online in an effort to identify. When we do identify those responsible, we will be taking those off road bikes and quads and destroying them, as recently shared on social media.
We have conducted a number of operations with our Colleagues from South Yorkshire Police, Lincolnshire Police and Derbyshire Police. This is a very effective way of policing due to the breadth of skills and training we are able to share and utilise. As a result of these operations, we have made multiple arrests, seized vehicles and deterred crime before it happens.

3.Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime in Worksop Town Centre
Operation Leadership is full swing, utilising crime data and problem management to address issues in Worksop Town Centre. Working with partners, including the excellent Bassetlaw District Council CCTV and ASB teams, we have secured some excellent arrests and results.
You may know that Worksop town centre featured in my last priorities, so work has been ongoing for some time.
I am pleased to report a 30% reduction in ASB in the area, one of the biggest reductions in Nottinghamshire. We absolutely understand that we still have work to do, but I am really pleased with the action taken so far and is a reward for the outstanding efforts of the Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Reviewing crime figures is also very pleasing reading when comparing this August this year compared with last year – criminal damage, public order, arson all down, with a robbery reduced by 33%.
The team has also been working on a targeted operation around shop theft and I am pleased to report a 40% reduction in the past two months. Since June, our prison tally for shop theft offences handed down by the courts is nearly two years combined.