Police officers move into the Ashfield Integrated Services hub

Police response officers are now based at the Ashfield Integrated Services hub as part of a move to bolster officer numbers and improve response times in the area.
Chief constable Craig Guildford, Inspector Craig Hall, Ashfield District Council chief executive Rob Mitchell, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, and Ashfield District Council leader Coun Jason ZadroznyChief constable Craig Guildford, Inspector Craig Hall, Ashfield District Council chief executive Rob Mitchell, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, and Ashfield District Council leader Coun Jason Zadrozny
Chief constable Craig Guildford, Inspector Craig Hall, Ashfield District Council chief executive Rob Mitchell, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, and Ashfield District Council leader Coun Jason Zadrozny

The move already appears to be paying off after a number of key arrests of suspects for drug supply, robbery, burglary and public order offences since they arrived.

Neighbourhood officers moved into the Civic Offices in Kirkby in January this year, in a bid for them to work closer with council and community staff as well as share services.

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With response officers now joining them at the hub, it is predicted it will allow officers to attend incidents more quickly as they will brief on then and there. It also supports the continued approach for remote working, using laptops and mobiles, meaning response officers will be able to stay out longer on the streets of Ashfield.

Neighbourhood Police Inspector Craig Hall said: "It's safe to say that everyone has been benefitting from the joined-up, pro-active response that the hub has allowed.

"It's just smarter working, making it easier to share information, respond effectively and avoid duplication. It automatically means that we communicate better, and now our response colleagues will feel the effect of this as well."

He added that since response officers moved in, there have been some notable arrests, including 42-year-old Wayne Elkington, of no fixed address, who has been charged in connection with drug supply; 19-year-old Dylan Slack, of Springfield Way, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, who has been charged with house burglary, and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons who has been charged in connection with a robbery.

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Councillor Jason Zadrozny, council leader, said: "This council's priority is to tackle crime and make our district a safer place to live.

"We have been working with partners to tackle crime especially on estates like Coxmoor and Carsic and Sutton Town Centre where working together we have achieved considerable success. Our integrated hub is increasingly effective.

"Having the Police, along with other organisations such as Women’s Aid, all based within the council’s Kirkby office allows information to be shared, conversations to be had and incidents responded to much quicker.

"We have already seen the results of this, with our Community Protection Team and police working together to tackle issues of mamba use in Sutton town centre, evict drug dealers from council properties and seizing four scooters on the Coxmoor Estate.

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"These are just some of the recent success stories. These positive results are having a real impact on residents and local communities and we will continue to ensure our communities better places to live."

Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said: "The success of this shared public service hub highlights that this is the right solution for us and for local residents. I’m grateful to our partners in Ashfield District Council for their support throughout the process. It’s a common-sense approach that enables better use of existing resources and keeps more officers and PCSOs out on the beat. 

"Now, with the response team working from this location too there will be even greater police visibility, which is exactly what we said we would deliver. 

"We are continually looking for new ways to become more efficient through joint working and we are seeing more shared locations across the force area as we work to keep police in our communities." 

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Shared service hubs are mirrored across the force wherever possible to improve the joined-up approach between neighbourhoods, response and our partners with a view to improve efficiency and cut unnecessary costs.

Residents won’t be affected and will continue to report crime and antisocial behaviour in the same ways as before.