PCC For Cheshire Commends Operation Shield

A reduction in neighbourhood crime and proactive work undertaken by Cheshire Constabulary to help make residents and visitors to the county feel safe has been commended by Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer (pictured) during a Public Scrutiny Meeting.

Neighbourhood crime includes burglary, robbery, vehicle offences and theft from the person. For the 12 months ending December 2021, Cheshire Constabulary recorded 6,087 neighbourhood crimes, a 9% reduction on the same period ending 2020.

One of the proactive measures the Constabulary implemented was ‘Operation Shield’, a force-wide initiative that uses the SelectaDNA forensic marking system to protect homes and businesses by reducing burglary opportunities, deterring offenders, and identifying and recovering stolen property.

SelectaDNA forensic marking can be applied to household items and the marking is only visible under a police UV light. If a stolen item is recovered, it can be checked for SelectaDNA and if present, items can be returned to their owners by police.

John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said: “I am extremely pleased with the reduction in neighbourhood crimes. Although, some of the Coronavirus measures put in place to keep people safe can be attributed to the decrease, the effective and efficient use of resources by the Constabulary to target these crimes has helped to make the county safer.”

He added: “My scrutiny process enables me to highlight areas of concern like neighbourhood crime and hold the Constabulary to account for what they’re doing to keep our communities safe. 

“The proactive action taken by the Constabulary to tackle these abhorrent crimes, such as using the UV marking deterrent, has seen a decrease in this type of crime. But I know there is always more to do. By implementing both proactive and reactive policing, the residents of Cheshire can be reassured that all steps are being taken to make the county as safe as it can possibly be.”