Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, John Tizard, has praised the impact of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative following a month of targeted action in Bedford town centre.
To mark the progress made, Mr Tizard (Labour) was joined by Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin on Friday (12 September) for a community walkabout with local officers and council staff.
During August, police and Bedford Borough Council delivered a wide-ranging programme of activity aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour, drug crime, and environmental issues in the town centre. This included:
- 83 Fixed Penalty Notices for antisocial behaviour
- 49 arrests linked to drugs and other offences
- 345 positive public engagements
- 66 visits to local businesses
- Knife sweeps, litter picks and fly-tipping operations
- A pop-up awareness event at La Piazza focused on knife crime
The initiative is part of a Home Office-funded push to improve safety in town centres across Bedfordshire. In Bedford, the council and police have also distributed 100 Business Watch letters and renewed direct engagement with shops and hospitality venues.
John Tizard, Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said: “While some deliberately seek to misinform the public about crime levels in Bedford, it’s important to focus on the facts.
“Antisocial behaviour is down, a cannabis factory has been shut down, criminal assets have been seized, and street-level drug and alcohol abuse is being tackled. The town centre is seeing more visible patrols and stronger partnership working than ever before.
“Thanks to the Safer Streets programme, real progress is being made – but we know there’s more to do. I’m grateful to Mohammad Yasin MP for joining me to see the work being done and hear about the next steps.”
Days before the walk around, the PCC had met with the Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton (Conservative), to present data compiled by Bedfordshire Police and Bedford Borough Council that had shown a 15% fall in ASB in the area over the summer.
Read: Bedford Town Centre summer crime crackdown sees ASB fall by nearly 15%
Long-term thinking
Mohammad Yasin MP added, “It was a pleasure to join Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, John Tizard, and local community officers for a walkabout in Bedford town centre today.
“This was a chance to see first-hand the proactive work being carried out as part of the “Safer Streets, Safer Town Centre” initiative.
“Backed by the Home Office, this initiative is already showing encouraging results, with a 15% reduction in anti-social behaviour compared to last year.
“I am pleased that Bedfordshire Police are making full use of the tools available to them, working in close partnership with the council and local communities to rebuild confidence and make the town centre a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.
“It’s a powerful reminder that a long-term, big-picture approach to tackling the root causes of crime is the most effective way to keep our communities safe.
“Through the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, named officers are now back in every community, restoring the link between local people and their police.
“I welcome the progress being made to strengthen neighbourhood policing, get more officers on the beat, and ensure that Bedford remains a town where people feel safe, supported, and proud to live and work.”
The walkabout began at Bedford Police Station hub, with members of the public, volunteers, and businesses invited to speak to the PCC and share their views.
Bedford is one of six towns in the county to benefit from enhanced patrols this summer. Bedford is seeing renewed partnerships between police, council, and community groups to tackle crime and support local businesses.
Read: Bedfordshire Police face criticisms head-on with launch of Summer Policing Plan
The Safer Streets programme will continue throughout September, with key elements expected to remain in place over the coming months.
You can find more information about the Safer Streets programme or details of how to get involved in local community safety efforts here.
