Suffolk Police is continuing to step up its presence this festive season with a series of high-visibility patrols and community engagement initiatives as part of the national Winter of Action campaign.
The operation has been designed to address the seasonal pressures that come with Christmas and New Year, including busier town centres, festive events, increased socialising, and risks linked to retail crime, night-time economy issues, and violence against women and girls.
Officers will focus on key town centre hotspots, providing reassurance, deterring offenders, and supporting victims. Targeted deployments will see police visible in areas such as transport hubs, shopping streets, and outside bars, pubs, and nightclubs. Officers will also attend late-night shopping venues, Christmas light switch-ons, and other high-footfall festive events.
A key component of the initiative is Project Vigilant, which deploys uniformed and plain-clothed officers to identify and deter predatory behaviour in night-time economy locations. Officers will monitor for signs of sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, and loitering, aiming to proactively prevent violence and sexual offences while ensuring everyone can enjoy their night out safely.
Community engagement is central to the campaign. Officers will speak with shoppers, socialisers, and bar-goers, offering advice and reassurance. They will also collaborate with licensed premises, town pastors, and other partner agencies to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
Chief Inspector Matt Breeze emphasised the importance of the initiative: “We want people to enjoy the build up to Christmas and New Year in a safe environment and people should feel reassured we will have officers and staff on duty at those times and in those places where we anticipate our highest demand.”
He added that overlaps of shifts on peak nights will ensure a strong presence in night-time economy locations, continuing into the early hours to address vulnerability and potential risks. Breeze highlighted proactive work in retail areas, including high-visibility and covert patrols to combat shoplifting, protect staff, and disrupt persistent offenders.
The policing activity will continue beyond the Christmas period, with January sales expected to see increased footfall. Preventative powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, along with Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders, will be used where necessary. Design Out Crime Officers will provide advice to local businesses on reducing theft and burglary.
Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore welcomed the initiative, saying: “It is really important that everyone feels safe when enjoying a night out so I welcome the multi-agency Winter of Action campaign which focuses on the issues which undermine those feelings of safety. I fully support the Constabulary’s additional focus on tackling retail crime and persistent anti-social behaviour, and offending linked to the night-time economy and violence against women and girls.
“We are determined to maintain Suffolk’s reputation as one of the safest counties in the country and I thank everyone who will be working over these busier, festive months to keep people safe. This Winter of Action sends a clear message that our town centres are safe and welcoming places. I want residents, visitors and businesses to feel confident that we are taking action to protect them, not just during the festive season but all year round.”
