Police in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, have unveiled a new local policing plan aimed at cutting shoplifting, street-level anti‑social behaviour and illegal car meets across the town.
Chief Inspector Pat McPeake and his Broxbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team at Hertfordshire Constabulary are prioritising three areas for the first half of 2026: tackling anti‑social behaviour in Cheshunt town centre (notably around The Old Pond and The Pavilions shopping area), reducing acquisitive crime such as shoplifting and burglary in Cheshunt East, and disrupting unauthorised vehicle gatherings across the borough.
Officers say they will use Section 35 dispersal powers to break up large, unauthorised car meets on routes such as the A10 before they escalate. The force also plans to use ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to identify vehicles linked to these meets, and to increase patrols — including high‑impact and parks patrols — to tackle nuisance off‑road bikes and other street disorder.
Residents can feed back on local concerns and help shape future policing priorities using Hertfordshire Constabulary’s ‘echo’ community feedback platform. The policing priorities announcement coincides with a Broxbourne Borough Council Scrutiny Committee meeting on 3 February 2026.
Success will be measured both by changes in recorded crime levels and by ‘community sentiment’ captured via digital feedback tools. Chief Inspector Pat McPeake, who has local experience dating back 12 years, said: “Broxbourne is an area I know well and I aim to keep the area a safe and pleasant place to live by working with my teams, the community and partners.”
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