Police have revealed how their reaction to incidents in Ipswich has changed since the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old in the town centre six months ago.
Raymond James Quigley died after suffering four stab wounds in Westgate Street on the afternoon of January 17.
Superintendent Andy Martin from Suffolk police is the area commander for Ipswich.
"I wasn't working that day, but my phone lit up," he said.
"I was shocked. While it's not acceptable at any time, there's an expectation that crime tends to happen at night time when it's hidden."
"Not in the broad daylight. We still talk about it on a daily basis."
Picking up the case on day two, he entered a hub of activity, with officers simultaneously pursuing the investigation and trying to come to terms with what had happened.
Supt Martin said the incident hit his colleagues just as hard as it did the public, adding: "The way we see it, this is our own backyard.
"When it happens in your patch, it's just like it happening in your home."
Though he is unable to comment on the investigation and ongoing court case, with two teenagers charged with murder, Supt Martin shared how the stabbing shaped Suffolk police's policies for Ipswich.
"There's a real difference between telling people they're safe and showing people they're safe," he said.
"In the days and weeks afterwards, we knew we had to step up to the plate in showing our commitment to the town."
Suffolk's police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore said that the greater visibility of police officers had been pressed for "for a long time".
"The building blocks are in place," he said.
"And the work we do with the voluntary and charity sectors is also important, because that's about helping people to make the right choices."
Some decisions such as moving the Kestrel team, a specialist group of highly trained police officers, to the new Princes Street station were already in the pipeline.
Kestrel team lead Sergeant Hussain highlighted their new-found proximity to the town centre.
"Being in a more centralised area gave us easy access to the town centre," he said.
"Since we've been here, you can see the benefits straight away.
"If there's a problem, the Kestrel team lands, breaks it up and, when it's resolved, we fly away like we were never there."
Having lived in Ipswich since he was six, Sgt Hussain takes great pride in policing the town, which made January's fatal stabbing all the more painful to him.
"It's like a big rock thrown in the middle of a pond," he added.
"Those ripples spread out across the town."
Since the event, one of his main aims has been dispelling the bad perception surrounding the town centre.
"I am very proud of the work we have done and, walking around Ipswich now, it feels to me that it's vastly improved compared to January," said Sgt Hussain.
"There are children playing in the fountains and more footfall for the shops.
"But Kestrel still have a job to do, as what the public really wants is consistency."
Supt Martin echoed these sentiments, saying that improving the perception and safety of Ipswich has always been a priority for him.
READ MORE: Reduction in violent and sexual crimes in Ipswich in 2023 compared to 2022
"Some will remember in May last year, when we almost got to a point where we were having high-level incidents on a weekly basis," he said.
Fast forward a year, this May saw half the number of violent offences than October and a third lower than the previous May.
Supt Martin added: "Rightly so, our community are nervous because of what happened in January, but the fact is, we've made a concerted effort and the successes are speaking for themselves."
As a final message to the public, Supt Martin said: "I'd ask people to play close attention to the case and what plays out to give them a better understanding of events.
"January was absolutely horrific. It's not left our minds, it won't have left the community's minds.
"But we can't let it define who we are and what we want Ipswich to be."
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