Police in Derbyshire have logged more than 1,900 hours of extra hotspot patrols across the county as part of a surge initiative aimed at reducing nuisance behaviour and local crime. The funding for the programme comes from a £4 million Home Office grant, and the increased patrols have included greater visible policing in Swadlincote town centre and nearby sites such as Eureka Park and The Pipeworks retail park.
Derbyshire Constabulary says it is using the extra patrol time to target issues including shoplifting, street drinking and the misuse of e‑scooters. Officers have been deployed for short, high‑visibility bursts in identified hotspots — a tactic the force says is intended to disrupt groups causing trouble and discourage repeat nuisance incidents.
According to Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni‑Roberts, data presented to the PCC’s public assurance meeting show that anti‑social behaviour incidents in the targeted Operation Shango locations have fallen by about 20 per cent. The PCC and force materials make clear the 1,900+ patrol hours are a county‑wide total, with Swadlincote one of the 20 communities receiving additional patrols; neighbourhoods in and around Swadlincote that have been included in the work include Newhall, Woodville and Church Gresley.
In Swadlincote, officers say patrols at sites such as Eureka Park have included activity aimed at identifying and deterring knife‑carrying and other disorder. The policing work is conducted alongside partner agencies — for example, South Derbyshire District Council provides CCTV and Environmental Enforcement Officers who support joint activity on issues such as littering and local environmental concerns.
The latest data were published as part of the PCC’s Public Assurance Meeting on 13 November 2025. While officials point to falls in recorded ASB in the targeted areas and say the extra patrols are helping residents feel safer, they and local partners say police will continue to monitor the town to ensure any improvements are sustained and to address concerns raised by some residents about ongoing youth‑led disorder and knife crime.
