More than 50,000 hours of targeted police patrols have now been carried out across Hertfordshire as part of a two-year effort to tackle crime, violence and anti-social behaviour in town centres and neighbourhoods.

The initiative, known as Operation Hotspot, was launched by Jonathan Ash-Edwards and focuses on areas experiencing higher levels of anti-social behaviour, violence and acquisitive crime.

Since May 2024, officers have completed 50,846 patrol hours across the county, carrying out hundreds of stop searches, making arrests and seizing weapons.

New figures released as part of the latest update show that during the second year of the operation officers made 370 arrests, carried out 654 stop searches and used anti-social behaviour powers 1,646 times. A total of 57 knives were also seized.

Police said hotspot patrols have also supported wider crime prevention measures including new and upgraded CCTV, mobile CCTV deployments, knife amnesty campaigns and retail crime prevention initiatives.

Additional items recovered during patrols included drugs, stolen property, corrosive substances and offensive weapons.

Mr Ash-Edwards said the milestone demonstrated the county's commitment to visible policing. He said: "Passing 50,000 hotspot patrol hours is a major milestone and demonstrates the commitment to delivering visible policing and cracking down on crime across Hertfordshire.

"Putting more police officer time into crime hotspots and town centres is not rocket science, it's common sense and it delivers real results."

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Chief Inspector Mark Collins said the operation allowed officers to focus patrols where they were most needed.

He added: "The additional patrol hours have led directly to arrests, stop searches, weapons seizures and the disruption of those responsible for repeat offending and anti-social behaviour.

"This targeted approach is helping us to reduce harm, improve safety and maintain a strong policing presence in hotspot locations across the county."

Police said Operation Hotspot achieved a 14.5 per cent reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour across targeted areas during its first year, with the downward trend continuing into year two.