Earlier today I visited the police station in Hinckley to talk with Inspector Palmer, the new area commander, to discuss how he is settling in and the issues that he is facing.
As it turns out, this is rather like coming home for Inspector Palmer as Hinckley is where he began his career in the police. Among the issues that the police in Hinckley have been tackling under Inspector Palmer's guidance have been:
Hare coursing. This has been a massive problem in previous years. In part this has been driven by a link to a gambling gang in the Far East who have been gambling on streamed video from rural Leicestershire. globalisation of crime in practice! This year, however, proactive action by the Rural Crime Team, supported by the Hinckley officers has resulted in a dramatic drop in this crime and the damage it causes in rural areas.
Burglary. This is often a problem at this time of year. Again, however, proactive policing has led to the crime falling compared to previous years.
Shoplifting and other retail crime. This was previously a real problem in Hinckley town centre that becae so great that it threatened the viability of some businesses. Joint action by the police, business owners and the council has led to a reduction in the problem. This culminated in a carefully planned operation last week that led to over 20 arrest. Well done all.
In the video you can see Inspector Parlmer talking about the shoplifting operation.
