Riverside Beat Priority Update

Good evening everyone,

Please see the following updates to the NC67 Riverside beat priority updates for the month of November. 

Anti-social behaviour:

Our PCSOs have been out and about across Mandela Park, Castle Gardens, and Thirlmere Gardens, making sure these popular spots remain safe and welcoming. We’re pleased to report that no issues were observed or reported during these patrols. However, we’re aware of reports being made about Castle Gardens when we’re not about, giving us more reason to be in the area more often. 

We also carried out additional patrols around the wider area, including the canal towpath, Eastern Boulevard, and DMU grounds. Despite the busy Halloween footfall, everything was calm and trouble-free.

Alongside patrols, we spent time engaging with students at local accommodation and the DMU Students’ Union. We shared advice on staying safe and protecting property as the darker nights draw in, and completed confidence surveys to hear how safe people feel in the community, providing the opportunity for you to have your say.

The team have also been utilising our anti-social behaviour reporting system which links up to other agencies, allowing us to share information and plan the best response to reported incidents. This includes reported issues around Pavilion Close and people gathering in their cars. 

A warrant was also executed this month on Hazel Street whereby a cannabis grow was found. Fortunately, it didn't look as if the grow was there for too long and it was dismantled before it's first crop, meaning significant disruption to what is believed to be a very organised crime group who set these up regularly.

Darker Nights campaign: 

As the evenings draw in, our team has been working on ways to help everyone feel safer when out and about. This includes highlighting well-lit routes and sharing simple tips that make a big difference in reducing risk, especially for women and girls travelling at night.

We’ve been carrying out high-visibility patrols across the area, including the canal towpath, Eastern Boulevard, and DMU grounds, to provide reassurance and deter anti-social behaviour. Everything has remained calm and trouble-free, even during busy periods like Halloween.

We also engaged with staff and students at local venues, offering advice on travelling safely and protecting personal belongings. Feedback was very positive, and we’ll continue listening to your concerns to keep our community safe.

Top Tips for Staying Safe on Darker Nights:

Burglaries and Retail theft:

Our officers have been visiting local stores and speaking with staff to address concerns around retail theft. Items most often targeted include wine, energy drinks, chocolate, and seasonal goods. We’ve advised staff on reporting incidents promptly so we can take action and prevent further offences.

Daily patrols are being carried out by PCSOs in areas where theft and burglary are more common during the darker nights, including Grasmere Street, Jarrom Street, and surrounding locations. We’ve also visited stores such as One Stop, Tigers, and B&M to offer support and reassurance.

During these patrols, a male was stopped committing a shop theft by our PCSO’s who quickly spotted and stopped the male. He was in possession of a large amount of chocolate and confectionary. Then, 2 days later, our PC’s were out and about and the same thing happened again, but a different suspect. All stock was retrieved and returned back to the store on both occasions, but there are clear efforts to become in possession of confectionary items. If you are a store worker, please be vigilant of suspicious persons coming in trying to get hold of these items. 

We’re committed to keeping our community safe and encourage everyone to report any suspicious activity or thefts to us straight away. Your information helps us respond quickly and effectively.

How you can help:

As always, if you see anything suspicious or have any concerns, please report to us via the Leicestershire Police website, 101 or in case of an emergency, 999.

Many thanks for your time.

Sgt 1509 David Wilson