Dunstable walkabout unites community for Safer Streets Summer

John Tizard, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire joined the central Bedfordshire community policing team, council leaders, and community partners for a walkabout in Dunstable town centre and The Quadrant. The walkabout showcased the power of partnership during the Safer Streets Summer.  

With the arrival of summer and busier town centres, today’s event reinforced a united response to rising seasonal concerns around anti-social behaviour and retail crime. The walkabout highlighted how Dunstable is benefiting from visible policing, collaborative problem-solving, and an intelligence-led approach to deploying resources where they are most needed. 

Bedfordshire agencies are working side by side, responding to tackle problems like theft, shoplifting, and anti-social behaviour. The focus is on increased police presence, business engagement, and strengthening community ties to ensure Dunstable remains a vibrant place for everyone this summer. 

Dunstable will see more officers on the streets, regular interventions by the community enforcement team, other police units including traffic, Servator operations. There will also be deployment of Live Face Recognition technology based in well signed static vans with specialist police officers. 

John Tizard, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner said:  

“As Police and Crime Commissioner I am pleased to be leading on the government’s summer safer streets, safer town centre initiative across Bedfordshire. Dunstable town centre experiences too much antisocial behaviour, retail crime and other street crime. Over the summer months there will be additional police in the town centre to tackle these crimes.  

“Working with local retailers, Central Bedfordshire and Dunstable Town Councils, our aim is to make Dunstable and the other town centres safer so people come into them to shop, for hospitality and to socialise.” 

Chief Inspector Jim Goldsmith, who oversees Community Policing for Central Bedfordshire, said:  

“Our #TogetherForBedfordshire approach is focused on increasing visibility and overt partnership working in our town centre locations and cracking down on the types of criminality that tend to be more prevalent in these areas, reassuring the public and business owners through a strong, visible presence. 

“Our Community teams are committed to supporting business owners and residents in their local neighbourhoods, with a priority focus on shoplifting and on related offences of handling stolen goods, which can help enable this type of offending. We are also committed to clamping down on antisocial behaviour in areas such as Dunstable, to make the town a more welcoming and safe place for residents and visitors alike. 

“We can’t do this work on our own, so we rely on the support of the public and businesses to report crime and suspicious activity, helping us better target our resources and plan our operations. We are also focused on collaborative problem solving with our partners in local authorities, support agencies and our local politicians.” 

Sally Kimondo, Mayor for Dunstable said “I am delighted to join you today for our Safer Streets Summer Initiative walkabout.  This initiative is testament to our commitment to ensuring that Dunstable remains a safe, welcoming and vibrant community for all its residents and visitors.  

It was good walking around and engaging with shop owners to give a first-hand experience of what is happening.  It’s positive to know Dunstable will have minimum of four rotation officers and a proactive enforcement against shoplifting”.   

The Safer Streets summer initiative will see proactive policing throughout the summer across Bedfordshire. Updates and safety guidance are available through dedicated community channels.