Government crime crackdown to target Telford town

Wellington in Telford is set to be one of the areas benefiting from a new government initiative to tackle town centre crime this summer. The Home Office has announced a ‘blitz’ that will see increased police patrols and local action in over 500 towns across England and Wales.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “High streets and town centres are the very heart of our communities. Residents and businesses have the right to feel safe in their towns.”

The initiative is part of the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee and Plan for Change. It aims to address a recent rise in street crime, which has seen significant increases in recent years. Theft from a person more than doubled between December 2022 and December 2024, while shop theft rose by over 60 per cent, with violence against retail workers also a concern.

Police and Crime Commissioners have been working to develop local action plans with police, businesses, and councils. The plans include boosting visible policing and using enforcement powers to stop troublemakers.

A new ‘Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy’ has also been launched. This strategy aims to use shared data to disrupt criminal gangs, prolific offenders, and opportunist offenders who target high streets.

The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) received £2 million from the Home Office to support police and partners. Part of this funding was used to create a national campaign to tackle retail crime.

The initiative also includes support for young people, with plans to provide activities for them during the summer holidays to keep them engaged and out of trouble.

Examples of other local initiatives include police in Humberside using real-time mapping to deliver dynamic patrols to problem locations, while police in Nottinghamshire have introduced a new diversionary intervention programme for repeat offenders.

The goal is to crack down on crime, restore faith in community policing, and help people feel safer in their towns.