The Potters Bar and Shenley Safer Neighbourhood Team has been working to tackle anti-social behaviour in Darkes Lane, Potters Bar and have been enlisting the support from local shopkeepers.
On Wednesday (26 October) officers attended a shop in Darkes Lane alongside officers from Hertfordshire Trading Standards, during which several items of drugs paraphernalia were surrendered.
Tackling the selling of alcohol and Nitrous Oxide cannisters to children in the town has been a policing priority for the team and they have been working to tackle it over the past three months. Locals reported the issues, and it was believed this contributed to an increase in anti-social behaviour.
During the visit on Wednesday, officers found glass pipes, cannabis grinders, baggies (dealer bags) and cannabis pipes under the counter, as well as ‘legal highs’ on the counter.
PC Ashleigh Begg said: “Whilst these items are not illegal to sell, we know that they are used by the customer, most often young people, to use or sell drugs. We asked the owners of the store to voluntarily surrender them to police for destruction and they agreed.
“This is just one way we are working to tackle the issue. Over the last three months we have been working with all small convenience stores in the area to ensure they are complying with the law, understand the consequences and are being responsible businesses. They have been asked to sign up to a voluntary Code of Conduct regarding the sale of Nitrous Oxide.
“Test purchase operations have also been conducted, and warnings and repeat visits have been carried out where they have been found selling alcohol and canisters to children.
“We’ve also been conducting additional high visibility patrols on foot and on bike to act as a deterrent to the ASB and we hope that locals will see a difference in the area as a result of this action.”
You can use our community voice platform ‘echo’ to let us know what you think we should be prioritising in your area. Your feedback will help towards shaping our local policing priorities, initiatives and campaigns. Visit one of the following links and tell us your thoughts:
South Mimms – bit.ly/police-smimms
Potters Bar – bit.ly/police-pb
Shenley – bit.ly/police-shenley
You can see what else the Safer Neighbourhood Team has been doing via @Hertsmerepolice on Twitter and ‘Hertsmere Police’ on Facebook.
You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call our non-emergency number 101. If a crime is in progress or someone’s life is in danger, call 999 immediately.
Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report information online at crimestoppers-uk.org (Opens in a new window).
*The Online Watch Link (OWL) is a free messaging system where residents can sign-up via OWL (Opens in a new window) to receive local news about what is happening in their neighbourhood as well as limited relevant Force-wide news.
Tackling anti-social behaviour in Potters Bar
