Westcotes — Neighbourhood Policing Team

You Said: You are concerned and frustrated by individuals involved in drug use and dealing in public spaces across our beat. What We Are Going To Do: We have a number of days of action planned where you will see officers out in force, targeting those involved in drug-related offences. Our focus will be on enforcement, disruption, and working with partners to tackle the root causes and reduce harm in the community.

Throughout June, officers have continued to tackle drug use and dealing in public spaces across the beat through a combination of enforcement, disruption, prevention, and community engagement. The neighbourhood team has carried out regular high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols in identified hotspot locations, acting on intelligence provided by residents and partner agencies. These patrols have resulted in several stop searches, the seizure of controlled drugs, and positive action against individuals involved in offending. Officers have also continued to develop intelligence around those responsible for supplying drugs within our communities, enabling further enforcement opportunities and disruption activity. We have maintained a strong focus on problem-solving, working closely with Leicester City Council, housing providers, and other partner organisations to address locations linked to anti-social behaviour and drug misuse. This partnership approach has allowed us to take longer-term action to reduce the impact of drug-related offending on local residents and businesses. As part of our commitment to visible policing, officers have continued to engage with the community through foot patrols, local events, and Beat Bus deployments. These interactions have provided valuable opportunities to listen to concerns, gather information, offer crime prevention advice, and reassure residents that action is being taken. We would like to thank members of the public who continue to report concerns and provide information. The intelligence you share remains vital in helping us identify offenders, target our resources effectively, and make the beat a safer place for everyone. We encourage residents to continue reporting drug-related activity through the appropriate channels so that we can take action and build on the progress made during recent months.

Set: 2026-07-01

Priority: Retail Crime in the Westcotes Area You Said: We have had an increase of reports relating to retail crime covering both theft and ASB impacting our local businesses. What We Are Going To Do: We are implementing a dedicated patrol plan to increase police presence in key locations, focusing deterring those who are causing the biggest issues. We have already identified the repeat offenders and have a plan of action to specifically engage with those offenders and put the spotlight on their specific situations that feed this sort of crime and ASB.

Throughout June, officers have continued to prioritise retail crime in the Westcotes area, carrying out a mixture of high-visibility patrols, plain-clothes operations, and targeted enforcement activities aimed at reducing shop theft and anti-social behaviour affecting local businesses. Patrols have remained focused on key hotspot locations and peak offending times, providing reassurance to retailers while disrupting those involved in persistent criminality. This increased presence has resulted in positive engagement with businesses and members of the public, as well as the identification and targeting of individuals responsible for a disproportionate number of offences within the area. The neighbourhood team has continued to work closely with retailers, sharing information and gathering intelligence to build evidence against repeat offenders. This collaborative approach has supported ongoing investigations and enabled officers to take positive action where appropriate, including arrests, voluntary interviews, community resolutions, and the progression of court outcomes and criminal behaviour measures where suitable. Partnership working has remained an important part of our response. Officers have continued to collaborate with Leicester City Council, local businesses, and support agencies to address wider issues linked to offending, including substance misuse, vulnerability, and persistent anti-social behaviour. By combining enforcement with problem-solving, we are seeking to achieve sustainable reductions in retail crime and improve the environment for businesses and visitors alike. We would like to thank local retailers for their continued support and willingness to report offences. The information and evidence provided by businesses are crucial in helping us identify offenders, secure positive outcomes, and direct resources to where they are needed most. We will continue to maintain a visible presence, develop intelligence on repeat offenders, and work with our partners to reduce retail crime and support the Westcotes business community.

Set: 2026-07-01

Priority: ASB with particular focus on those seeking and using sex workers in public places. You Said: We’ve received a number of reports about some specific areas that have been used for sex work to the frustration of What We Are Going To Do: Typically this is a sensitive area of policing where we see high levels of vulnerabilities with those involved. That being said we cannot accept the families and residents that make up our communities being exposed to this behaviour. Therefore we are going to target those who are using sex workers in public places through specific intelligence led operations with a view to deterring these activities taking place.

Whilst we work on our new priority, see below how we got on with last months priority; Throughout June, officers have continued to proactively tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour across Westcotes, focusing on locations highlighted by residents and partner agencies as areas of concern. Through a combination of high-visibility patrols, targeted engagement, and enforcement activity, we have worked to address the behaviour of individuals whose actions negatively impact the wider community. Regular patrols have been conducted in known hotspot areas, including parks, open spaces, and locations where groups have previously gathered to consume alcohol and cause disruption. These patrols have enabled officers to engage directly with individuals, provide advice where appropriate, and take positive action when behaviour has crossed the threshold into anti-social or criminal conduct. Officers have also used these opportunities to gather intelligence and identify repeat offenders responsible for ongoing issues. Where necessary, enforcement powers have been utilised to deal with persistent offenders and prevent further incidents. At the same time, we have continued to work with partner organisations to support vulnerable individuals whose behaviour may be linked to underlying issues such as alcohol dependency, homelessness, or mental health concerns. This balanced approach helps ensure that enforcement is accompanied by opportunities for support and longer-term intervention where appropriate. The neighbourhood team has also maintained a visible presence within the community, speaking with residents and local businesses to better understand concerns and identify emerging issues. This engagement has been invaluable in directing patrol activity and ensuring resources are focused where they are needed most. We would like to thank everyone who has continued to report incidents and share information with us. Community intelligence plays a vital role in helping us tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour effectively. We will continue this work throughout the summer months, maintaining targeted patrols, developing evidence against persistent offenders, and working closely with partners to ensure public spaces remain safe and welcoming for all members of the community.

Set: 2026-07-01