Police Now officers tackling crime and anti-social behaviour with positive results across Cheshire

Police Now officers are playing a vital role in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Cheshire.

Communities where Police Now officers have been posted for the last 22-months have seen 38,772 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour compared to the same time period from October 2016 – equivalent to a 14 per cent drop. 

Officers on Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme have been working alongside their colleagues within their local neighbourhood teams. 

As well as the drop in anti-social behaviour, communities have also seen 14,301 fewer incidents of criminal damage & arson – a fall of 13 per cent. There were 12,460 fewer incidents of burglary – a fall of 16 per cent – and 31,732 fewer incidents of theft, equivalent to a 14 per cent fall. 

PC Gina Volp of Cheshire Constabulary investigated repeat anti-social behaviour that led to a probe into child sexual exploitation taking place in hotels. Intelligence suggested that young people were victims of a criminal operation in which vulnerable young females were taken to hotels by a female suspect, given drugs and alcohol and were sexually exploited by men who travelled from outside the force area.

Operation Waterside was launched and police powers were used to get information on potential suspects using the hotels and to warn other hotels about specific individuals. The investigation led to the arrest of a female suspect for sexual offences with bail conditions preventing her from contacting anyone under 16. Vulnerable females - identified as part of this operation - going missing from their homes has dropped by nearly two thirds and schools have reported increased engagement. Thirteen charges have been made in relation to the investigation, which was the overall winner of the 2020 Tilley Award – an awards programme set up by the Home Office to recognise problem-solving.

PC Volp said: “Training with Police Now equipped me with key skills that I have been able to use, alongside my Neighbourhood Policing colleagues, to identify and help solve problems within the communities I have served.”

Police Now’s mission is to transform communities by recruiting, developing and inspiring diverse leaders in policing. 

Officers on Police Now’s programmes develop skills in leadership and problem-solving. They share a commitment to public service, fighting crime and inspiring social change alongside their colleagues. 

Police Now has recruited a total of 1,830 officers across 33 forces in the UK, including Cheshire Constabulary, with 9 police constables joining the force via this route.

Police Now consistently recruits more officers who are women or from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds compared to any other entry route into policing. Police Now recruitment data shows that nationally, 17 per cent of those joining Police Now's National Graduate Leadership Programme in 2020 identified as coming from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background and more than half (54 per cent) identified as women.

Co-founder of Police Now and former Detective Chief Inspector David Spencer, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact our participants continue to have within their local communities, and their commitment to driving positive change with their colleagues so that everyone in our society, including the most vulnerable, have a chance to thrive”.

Pictured - Cheshire Constabulary PC Gina Volp.