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It is a multi-agency initiative and the ‘Q’ quite simply stands for ‘Quality’. There is a general appreciation that the police alone cannot tackle all the ills of society and that working in partnership with other agencies is the best solution. Operation ‘Q’ operates on such a basis, with upwards of twenty local agencies and organisations taking part, agencies for example like Housing or Probation. Areas are selected from police intelligence together with information from residents. This is gathered from our community officers who, as the title suggests, endeavour to form close links with the people in the area. Over a few days the area is then, as far as possible, swamped with police on foot and in cars. Officers are briefed to deal with the minor offences whilst targetting areas which have been the subject of crimes such as burglaries and car thefts.
Operation ‘Q’ has been well received, so much so that a petition was collected from the residents of one area. We normally associate petitions with problems, but on this occasion we were delighted to receive a petition of support for the positive police action!
We are not complacent. We know that there is still a great
deal to do to combat crime and anti-social behaviour but by continuing to work
in partnership we believe that in-roads are beginning to be made.
