Cambridge crackdown leads to more than 1,000 criminal charges

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has secured more than 1,000 charges as part of a crackdown on retail crime, bike theft and begging.

The force’s Spree Offending Team, based at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge, was set up in September last year to tackle the area’s most prolific criminals.

Since they started, officers have made 168 arrests and secured charges for 1,032 crimes including bike theft, criminal damage, possessions of knives and drugs, burglary, theft from motor vehicles, going equipped for theft and hundreds of shop lifting offences.

The team has also secured Criminal Behaviour Orders for 12 prolific offenders, including four this month, preventing them from entering areas where they have previously committed crime.

“We work daily to identify and track down persistent and prolific offenders responsible for large numbers of crimes across Cambridge and beyond. We then work alongside our partner agencies and other departments to try and prevent the individuals from further offending.

Sergeant Dan Scott, who leads the Spree Offending Team

“There can be a misconception that ‘lower-level’ criminality such as theft, retail crime and criminal damage are less important and given less priority than other crimes.

“However, we recognise the impact these spree offences have on victims, businesses and employers including financial loss, abuse, threats and intimidation. We will continue to work tirelessly to arrest and put before the courts anyone committing offences in Cambridgeshire.”

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