Residents in Hitchin are being asked to have their say on the issues that matter most in their neighbourhood, as local police set their next round of priorities.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams from Hertfordshire Constabulary are asking the public to complete a short survey to help decide which issues officers should focus on between May and August.

Police say anti-social behaviour, speeding and drug-related crime have been among the issues tackled over the past three months as a direct result of feedback from residents.

How local policing priorities work

Neighbourhood Policing Teams set local priorities every four months, focusing on the issues causing the most concern in each area. Officers then work with partners to address those issues through increased patrols, engagement events and targeted enforcement.

Police say public feedback plays a major role in deciding what those priorities should be, alongside local crime data.

While neighbourhood teams focus on local priorities, other officers — including response officers and detectives — continue to deal with emergency calls and investigate crimes such as burglary, robbery and assault. Force-wide priorities such as burglary and violence against women and girls will also continue to be tackled.

How to take part

advertisement

Residents can share their views through the police survey, which is available online. The survey is run through the Herts Connected platform, although people do not need to be members to take part.

Residents can also see what people in their area are saying by visiting the Herts Connected website and entering their postcode, and can follow updates from their local policing team via social media or the Hertfordshire police website.

Police say they want to ensure local resources are focused on the issues that matter most to residents, and are encouraging as many people as possible to take part in the survey.