Incredibly it’s a year since I first took on the role of chief. A lot has been packed into a short space of time, and I am very grateful to my team.
Our priority is strengthening trust and confidence through high standards and good service. I am pleased improvements have already been made. My teams have a clearer focus on the crimes that matter most to communities and more of the tools to do the job. Policing helps keep people safe but we don’t do it alone, of course. Working with other local organisations, council departments and community partners is vital too.
My teams continue to give significant attention to east Leicester since the disorder last summer.
Work continues at many levels with sensitivity and energy. Investigations are ongoing and cases are moving closer to the courts.
Our focus has been on open dialogue. We have been direct and open about the strong progress of investigations, our commitment to policing without fear and favour, and listening to feedback, ideas and concerns.
More broadly, I was delighted to see that policing’s independent inspectorate assessed Leicestershire’s work tackling Serious and Organised Crime as “outstanding” this spring – the highest grade.
The report recognised how we deal with the threat of drug gangs, how we work with local communities, and also use campaigns to help families spot the signs of exploitation or criminal activity.
We carried out a hard-hitting drugs operation centred on Leicester earlier this year called Operation Flawless. It disrupted 10 county lines drug gangs, made more than 50 arrests, and seized Class A drugs with a value of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
My teams have been working with partners to build behind any gaps left by these gangs so that dealers do not return.
On officer recruitment, there’s good news. Leicestershire Police will meet its uplift targets and I am very pleased to say we have attracted recruits from more diverse backgrounds and appointed overall more women than men. This is crucially important in order that the force better reflects the communities we serve and strengthens Team Leicestershire. I look forward to sharing more about this soon.
There seems a lot there for a short update, which feels a lot like my year! But I hope it shows how committed Leicestershire Police is to our communities, good service and high standards.
By Rob Nixon, Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police
