Nottingham streets to see surge in high-visibility patrols
Nottingham is implementing a zero-tolerance approach to city centre criminality through a newly launched multi-agency initiative. Operation Reclaim involves a surge in high-visibility patrols across various sectors of the urban core, aiming to disrupt organised crime and persistent anti-social behaviour. The strategy focuses on making the city centre a hostile environment for criminals while restoring public confidence for residents, workers, and visitors.
The Clear, Hold, Build Strategy in Nottingham
The operation utilizes the Home Office “Clear, Hold, Build” framework, a three-phase tactic designed to produce long-term safety improvements. Nottinghamshire Police are leading the “Clear” and “Hold” stages, which involve targeted operations to remove criminal elements from specific zones. Once an area is cleared, police maintain a constant presence to ensure a power vacuum does not allow new criminal groups to take root.
This approach is specifically tailored to address the most pressing issues identified by local intelligence: youth anti-social behaviour, drug distribution, weapon-carrying, and retail theft. The use of illegal e-bikes and aggressive begging are also high-priority targets for the deployed units.
Multi-Agency Roles and Responsibilities
Operation Reclaim is not solely a policing matter; it relies on a coalition of local authorities and business stakeholders. Nottingham City Council is spearheading the “Build” phase of the project. This involves physical improvements to the urban environment, such as removing graffiti, tackling litter, and upgrading infrastructure to make public spaces less conducive to criminal activity.
Key partners in the initiative include the Violence Reduction Partnership, the Nottinghamshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and “It’s in Nottingham,” which represents the interests of city centre businesses. These organizations meet weekly to share intelligence and coordinate resources, ensuring that the pressure on criminal activity remains consistent across the city.
Metrics from Previous Enforcement Actions
The current operation builds on the success of emergency measures implemented last year. Following a machete confrontation near the Winter Wonderland in Old Market Square in December, police launched an intensive period of high-visibility enforcement.
That single month of proactive patrolling resulted in more than 500 arrests and the issuance of 50 bans from the city centre for repeat offenders. Operation Reclaim seeks to formalize and expand these results, moving from reactive policing to a permanent strategic presence.
Public Consultation and Next Steps
A central component of the new strategy is a public survey launched to gather direct feedback from residents, students, and business owners. City Commander Superintendent Chris Pearson stated that the police are committed to a “you said, we did” approach, where deployment locations are directly influenced by public reports of feeling unsafe.
Superintendent Pearson emphasized that the goal is to make criminals feel constantly watched and pursued, leaving them with no option but to exit the city centre or change their behaviour. The initiative also includes the deployment of council neighbourhood safety officers, street pastors, and voluntary sector support workers to provide a comprehensive safety net.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to participate in the ongoing safety survey to identify specific areas where they feel patrols should be concentrated. The data collected will serve as a roadmap for the “Build” phase, helping the council prioritize environmental repairs and community support projects.
Source: Nottingham City Council
