Summer is here, the school holidays are nearly upon us, and harvest started very early in Suffolk this year because of the prevailing drought and hot weather. As usual, our Constabulary is anticipating an increase in demand during the next few months and our town centres are focal points for local people and tourists alike.
It has always been clear to me that greater police visibility and accessibility, reassures visitors and business and acts as a powerful deterrent for criminals, and this is even more important during the busy summer period. Fortunately, Suffolk starts from a very favourable position compared to other force areas as we have the third lowest recorded crime rate per capital nationally.
Of course, there is always more to be done to prevent crime, apprehend offenders and prosecute accordingly. Recently many town centres have witnessed considerable success with the previous government’s Safer Streets programme which was supported financially with Home Office funding.
Whilst that programme finished, the current Home Secretary recently announced a new programme named the Safer Streets Summer Initiative. This campaign builds on the successes of the previous programmes, but on this occasion, there is a quasi ”mandated” approach from the Home Office. The summer campaign includes crackdowns on anti-social behaviour, street and retail crime between July and September. This will be largely achieved via a greater police presence, extra foot patrols, much more engagement and considerable communication and social media activity. This time, however, there is no funding available as the government considers this is covered by the new Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. Which is all well and good, but whilst I am always grateful for any additional financial support we receive in Suffolk, the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee requirements will not be delivered until the end of this financial year. The funding Suffolk will receive is £1.8 million during this year delivering seventeen new officers and seven extra staff members, so the officers involved in this Safer Summer Streets campaign will therefore be reallocated from elsewhere.
Throughout the summer officers will depend on other agencies’ contributions which is once again is a great example of how we continue working together in Suffolk. As part of the initiative there is a vast calendar of community events and engagement opportunities so I am waiting with eager anticipation to visit the areas whenever I can during the next three months.
The town centres involved with the Safer Streets Summer Initiative were picked by Home Office boffins using their own data sources. The towns chosen in the west of the county are Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Newmarket – why Haverhill our fourth largest county settlement is not included is utterly beyond my comprehension!
I hope and expect the campaign will have a very positive impact on our town centres. In Suffolk we are very fortunate to have a multitude of beautiful and historic towns which attract thousands of tourists and day trippers every year. The county has a fully deserved reputation of being one of the lowest crime force areas in England and Wales and we must all do what we can to maintain that favourable disposition.
Most of us detest the lack of respect shown by some people and anti-social behaviour that desecrates society, especially our town centres. Litter, graffiti and drunken behaviour are unacceptable and have no place in civilised communities and I think a tacit acceptance by too many citizens of the illegal drugs trade is just plain wrong. This is a subject that comes up frequently at talks and public meetings I attend.
Neither can there be any justification of shoplifting (which in my book is simply theft) or violence and abusive behaviour towards retail staff regardless of circumstances. Suffolk constabulary has never endorsed the approach of only pursuing shop theft if the value exceeds £250; all such crimes should be recorded and tackled appropriately in my opinion with a zero-tolerance approach.
The summer campaign will address these issues and much more. It will help our economy countywide. Newmarket as the global home of horseracing, has enormous potential to contribute yet more to the nation’s economic wellbeing with the huge number of visiting horse racing enthusiasts, never mind the significant inward investment opportunities. The attractive market town of Sudbury is steeped in history – with its links the silk industry and wool trade as well as the home of the world-famous artist Thomas Gainsborough. Bury St Edmunds is renowned for Bury in Bloom and the cathedral, and also as a significant contributor to the historic Magna Carta by the meeting of barons in 1214 prior to its publication the following year. You name it we have it all here in Suffolk!
Overall the Safer Summer Streets campaign will really contribute to all that is good and great about Suffolk and make it a safer place to in which to live, work, travel and invest – something we all desire and deserve!
Published in Bury Free Press in July 2025