Staffordshire Commissioner Matthew Ellis has praised the work of a new proactive police team designed to tackle and disrupt crime which causes the most harm, including serious crime and the supply of controlled drugs.
Speaking at the last Public Performance Meeting of his term, held at the County Buildings in Stafford yesterday (27 February), Mr Ellis commended the impact the Disruptions team has already had on tackling crime across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The team was launched seven months ago, funded as a result of Mr Ellis’ decision to increase the amount raised through local taxes.
It works alongside neighbourhood and force colleagues, and is deployed wherever it is needed most, to target individuals or places that are suffering crime.
The team also concentrates on vulnerabilities impacting on neighbourhoods, such as child sexual exploitation, cyber crime and modern day slavery.
A report presented by Staffordshire Police to the public performance meeting detailed the successes of the Disruptions team, which so far have included:
- Almost 150 arrests to date, relating to drug offences, rape, serious assaults, burglary, modern day slavery and breach of licence;
- A number of weapons seized including knives and firearms;
- 16 safeguarding referrals;
- Support for numerous force priorities including county lines, car key burglaries and violent offences.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis said: ‘Criminality is becoming more complex, and the police need to have the tools to allow them to do their jobs as effectively as possible to disrupt that criminality.
‘The extra investment in policing I’ve asked people to make through local tax has already strengthened many aspects of policing, including the new Disruptions team – although the increase since 2013, when I was first elected, is still the second lowest in the country.’
The public performance meetings are part of the Commissioner’s commitment to accountability, transparency and openness in the police and fire and rescue services, ensuring the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are better informed and involved in how services are delivered.
Watch the meeting online.
Read the documents shared at the meeting.
