A top police officer in Ipswich has said the force is focusing on prolific offenders for retail crime as well as anti-social behaviour.

Ipswich Central Policing Team Inspector Nicola Turner spoke of the focuses and successes of the force following Neighbourhood Policing Week, a national celebration of local policing, from January 22 to 28.

Ipswich Star: Inspector in Ipswich Central Policing Team Nicola Turner Inspector in Ipswich Central Policing Team Nicola Turner (Image: Suffolk Police)

She said: “My area is Ipswich town centre where we are focusing on prolific offenders for retail crime as well as gang issues and drugs and on antisocial behaviour. It’s about that community focus.

“My officers go out and ask what people want. They engage with local communities and hard to reach people. It’s been really positive.

“Theft for motor vehicles is another area where we have done a lot of action around acquisitive crime.

“Across our teams there have been heaps of good examples where we have had ongoing issues in an area and we’ve worked really hard to tackle that behaviour and maintain that.”

In particular, Insp Turner highlighted the successes at the Old Cattle Market Bus Station, including banning five teenagers from the town centre following a brawl at the station in November.

Ipswich Star: The five teenagers were sentenced in November last year.The five teenagers were sentenced in November last year. (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

The teenagers had pleaded guilty to violent disorder and were given a five-year ban from the town centre.

Ipswich Star: Five teenagers have been sentenced following the brawl in IpswichFive teenagers have been sentenced following the brawl in Ipswich (Image: Suffolk Police)

Inspector Turner said: “It was an area where a lot of people would congregate.

“Some of our homeless community, street drinkers and youngsters gathered there because of the layout. Obviously, there was noise, litter and general nuisance.

“By removing the concrete sitting areas, cutting some trees down and increasing some lighting it is now an area where people don’t go and commit antisocial behaviour. We’ve also increase police patrols.”

But she concluded by saying the rest of the town is not being neglected: “There are other areas in Ipswich where similar targeted activity means we see these decreases.”