Neighbourhood team prioritises hotspots and road safety
Leicestershire Police have set anti‑social behaviour and road safety as priorities for the Oakham and Barleythorpe beat after a month of targeted activity in July, officials said in their latest briefing to residents.
The force said officers from the Dedicated Neighbourhood Team, including PCSO Lyall and PC Hughes, worked with the county council's Community Safety and Safer Streets teams to identify problem locations and tackle persistent issues through a mix of visible patrols and intelligence‑led interventions.
Actions described in the report included joint patrols, engagement with residents and businesses, targeted interventions to identify perpetrators, and enforcement measures where appropriate. The team also focused on road safety, carrying out speed enforcement in 30mph zones with mobile detection equipment and high‑visibility patrols.
"Through joint patrols, engagement with residents and local businesses, and targeted interventions, we have identified several perpetrators, issued advice and warnings where appropriate, and issued a Section 59 warning for the anti‑social use of a vehicle."
Police said they had identified and arrested several suspects in July for drug offences and carried out stop checks at locations of concern to gather intelligence and support ongoing investigations. The report highlighted the use of Section 59 powers — a measure used to warn drivers whose vehicle use is causing alarm, distress or annoyance — as one of the enforcement tools applied during the month.
Where residents can raise concerns
The Oakham team has invited residents to meet officers at a beat surgery scheduled for 10:00 on 25 August at Oakham Castle. The event is being promoted as an opportunity for people to report concerns, ask questions about local policing priorities and learn more about how the neighbourhood team is operating.
Local councillors and community groups often use such sessions to press for action on recurring problems. For Oakham and Barleythorpe, the focus this summer has been on anti‑social behaviour in identified hotspots and on improving compliance with 30mph limits, police said.
- Patrols and engagement: Joint patrols with Safer Streets and Community Safety teams.
- Road safety: Targeted speed enforcement using mobile detectors and high‑visibility officer presence.
- Drug enforcement: Arrests and stop checks to disrupt criminality and collect intelligence.
- Public meeting: Beat surgery at Oakham Castle, 25 August, 10:00.
The report does not publish numerical totals for arrests or warnings issued in July, but the narrative emphasises a combination of prevention, engagement and enforcement. Officers said stop checks had proved particularly useful for intelligence gathering in support of wider investigations.
Local context and likely consequences
Oakham residents have previously raised concerns about noisy vehicles, inconsiderate driving and drug‑related activity in parts of the town. The neighbourhood team's multipronged approach — engaging residents and businesses, carrying out visible patrols, using speed detection and applying statutory powers where needed — is consistent with national guidance on tackling anti‑social behaviour.
For residents, the immediate consequence should be an increased visible police presence and targeted action in identified hotspots. The planned beat surgery gives the public a direct channel to feed information to officers and to test whether local priorities align with community concerns.
Police have urged anyone with information about ongoing issues to attend the surgery or use established reporting channels. Local partnerships — including the community safety team and Safer Streets programme — will influence how long‑term measures, such as environmental changes or traffic calming, are considered alongside policing activity.
| Area of activity | What police report says |
|---|---|
| Anti‑social behaviour | Identification of perpetrators, advice/warnings, targeted interventions |
| Road safety | Speed enforcement in 30mph zones using mobile detection and visible patrols |
| Drug‑related activity | Arrests and stop checks to gather intelligence |
| Community engagement | Beat surgery at Oakham Castle on 25 August at 10:00 |
Residents who cannot attend the beat surgery are encouraged to contact Leicestershire Police through their usual non‑emergency channels to report concerns or to pass along information that may assist ongoing enquiries.
