Dozens of arrests were made and weapons seized in an operation to tackle youth violence across Nuneaton and Bedworth. Operation Outfitter' was launched just before the summer to target youngsters who are believed to be behind trouble across the borough.
It was in direct response to stop a repeat of the scenes that led to last summer becoming one of Nuneaton's most violent in recent history, reaching a peak with a brazen machete attack in the car park at the town's Asda store. Chief Inspector Steve Davies said that Operation Outfitter is now ending - and he is pleased with the results.
"Has it been a success? Yes, I think so, we have seen a number of arrests and weapons seized. Do I think we have more to do? Yes, I do think there is but Outfitter has been a success," he said.
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"Yes, we have seen violent crimes, we have had murder rates rise across Warwickshire, but I don't think we have seen huge outbreaks of violence," he said. "Yes, we have seen small pockets of it, we expect to see small pockets but when we have seen those pockets, at the end of it, people are going to court for it.
"That, for me, is success. I can't stop violent crime but when we are getting violent crime, what we are doing is dealing with it, locking them up and sending them to prison. If they are not going to prison, then I am afraid that is the justice system and not the police."
He added: "I don't think we will ever get a perfect picture but if I compare it year on year, we are in a better place than we were last year. Not only in terms of figures, but also in terms of what the public feel.
"Yes, I am happy but we are on the brink of the festive period, with bonfire night and Halloween, so I thought now is the time to wrap that (Outfitter) down but next year we will probably launch it again."
He went on: "I don't think we will ever get a perfect picture to paint but if I compare it year on year, we are in a better place than we were last year. Not only in terms of figures, but also in terms of what the public feel.
"What I didn't want to see was that famous Asda picture from last year where there was absolute chaos and the public think we have lost control of the streets. What I would like to think is that the public has seen a better and more visible safer neighbourhoods policing team, they have seen us on operations and out on warrants."
There have been several serious incidents across the area, most recently a shooting in Atherstone and a serious attack in Hill Top. But he said they were not related to youth violence.
"These were isolated incidents," he said. "I think without the operation, I think we would have probably seen more discontent around the borough, we would have seen more people injured. It has been a success, we have got work to do but are in a better place than where we were last year."
The focus of the operation was not just about locking up youngsters, it was also about diverting those on the brink of crime away from trouble. It led to officers identifying yet more young people at risk of falling into crime.
This 'secondary' group were said to be 'likely to be influenced and potentially exploited' by the core group and they were offered help. Warwickshire Police also made 26 referrals for young people and their families to children’s services, Warwickshire front door, healthcare services and the local authority and housing.
Outfitter results
As the operation comes to an end, results of it have been revealed and are as follows:
- Arrests – 32
- Weapons seized – 18
- Vehicles seized – 45
- Intelligence logs submitted - 88
Some of the most wanted and targeted youths in the operation were arrested and are now going through the court process. Drugs raids were also staged as part of the operation and this has led to cannabis factories being smashed in Bedworth and also in Nuneaton.
The operation ran during the time that the Knife Angel was in Nuneaton town centre. This not only led to a number of events being held, it also saw more than 1,500 local school pupils being taught about the dangers of knife crime and violence.
Ongoing work
While Operation Outfitter is stopping, elements of it will remain - including tackling motorbike thefts as well as stopping criminals from using roads in the borough. "The bike part is something that I am not quite happy with," CI Davies said.
"We have done some great work around enforcement, we have pursued bikes, which is outside what we would normally do and we have spent a lot of time building intelligence pictures and taking bikes off people from their home addresses. But I would say to the public: 'I need you to keep reporting things about bikes because it is really beneficial
"I have made a commitment to keep the ANPR enforcement operations going throughout the winter. This is a huge commitment around bringing those Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) officers and regional assets in, in terms of force traffic and firearms to come and assist us.
"So yes, Outfitter is going. However, we are keeping elements of the operation on the background, one around the motorbike and one around the ANPR operations because one, I think the public like to see it and overall I think we get some good results from them."
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