By David Sandall, temporary Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police
As spring turns into summer, it marks a crucial period for our police force as we enter a new financial year and prepare for the various events and celebrations ahead. With the warmer weather comes different challenges and an increase in demand for our services, but our commitment to keeping Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland safe remains our top priority.
Picture credit: Leicestershire Police
Last year, we witnessed sustained demand on policing during the spring and summer months, and we are preparing to ensure events and celebrations have appropriate policing support whilst continuing to prevent, detect crime and deal with violent and repeat offenders.
Many of you are already helping keep your area safe from crime – thank you! Anyone can help by joining our social media groups to get accurate information and help address the worry of misinformation. You can also sign up to Neighbourhood Link for updates on progress from our dedicated local police team.
Everyone can implement crime prevention measures to help prevent crime occurring in the first place. For example, you can get advice through our Life Safe website, which is specifically parents, carers and children, giving helpful advice on key challenges young people may face today.
Neighbourhood Link community messaging service | Leicestershire Police
Making our community a safe place to live – LiveSafe
Finally, you can help us by using 999 for emergencies only, this really does make a difference to ensure we can get to the people who really need us immediately.
You can find more information on reporting crime to us at #HelpUsHelpYou – Learn about the different ways to contact us in a non-emergency | Leicestershire Police
Modern day policing is complex, demanding and rewarding. This is reflected in how policing is often a focus in the media whether in the traditional news, on social media, in documentaries, fictional series or following live deployments.
I firmly believe it is good that the public get to see the breadth of great work that is undertaken by their police force via social media or media. Often, we can make a positive difference to individuals and areas, whether this is through problem solving with local communities to address a local crime issue, to diverting young people away from the criminal justice system. We continue to strive to secure convictions for those causing the greatest harm and often our officers are out there literally saving lives.
There has also been a lot of recent reporting on the police budget, policing service and police resourcing, with national and local reviews and learning often linked to the continued challenges faced, of which Leicestershire Police is not immune.
Whilst we are facing further significant budget cuts, our approach is carefully considering ways to ensure that front-line services and our commitment to the public remains. Investment in local policing and neighbourhoods will continue, as well as tackling serious crime such as violence against women and girls. We continuously look to work smarter using technology to put resources in the right place at the right times to keep people safe.
For example, if you report a crime, you may find that you are asked to do a video chat with us, which is something we have rolled out across the force area receiving significant positive public feedback on the service being offered and provided.
There is no doubt there is a difficult challenge ahead, but we are up to the challenge, and it is my role to lead this force onwards, ensuring that we continue to deliver our duty to the people of Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland in the best way possible.
The collective effort in support of your local police service is important and is making a difference. Crime is down again, we are detecting more crime, continuing to provide restorative justice programmes as well as sending many offenders to court, and seeing positive steps in further developing trust and confidence in your local police service, Leicestershire Police.
