Community Priority for Bedford Town Centre - Operation Highgate.

Op Highgate seeks to combat on-going issues in Bedford Town Centre by using a combination of proactive and reactive Police enforcement tactics and partnership working. The main aim of this operation is to increase public confidence, increase partnership working and reduce criminality and the associated anti-social behaviour within Bedford Town Centre.

February 2026 to 01st August 2026.

During the priority setting meeting held on 31st January 2026 your local councillors met with your local policing team where the following priorities have been identified and agreed:

Drugs and ASB in Alexandra Road and Greyfriars has been identified as the community priority for this quarter.

Drugs and ASB within Russell Park has been identified as the community priority for this quarter.

If you have any concerns regarding your local area, please contact your local officers via:
BedfordUrbanNPT@beds.police.uk

Issued 01 February 2026

This is an ongoing priority for Bedford Town Centre and will remain the priority throughout the year.

Regular reviews are completed to identify any new and emerging trends.

So far the this year the team has;
- completed several warrants, one of which led to 7 arrests and another where 1000s of items of stolen property was recovered.
- several knife test purchasing operations have been completed with the Police Cadets to identify stores selling knives without checking ID. Locations that fail are referred to licensing.
- 2 Successful closure orders.
- Regular Project Servator deployments
- Regular high visibility patrols in the Town.
- Several Police Operations targeting nuisance vehicles.
- Bi-weekly partnership meetings.
- Regular days of action.
- 3 Police Surgeries a week at the Bus Station Hub.

Actioned 01 February 2026

Community Priority for Queens Park

February 2026 to 01st August 2026.

During the priority setting meeting held on 31st January 2026 your local councillors met with your local policing team where the following priorities have been identified and agreed:

Drugs - Street level drug dealing has been identified as a concern for local residents of Queens Park.

Vehicle Interference/Theft from motor vehicles - Within Queens Park there have been recent reports of vehicles being targeted and property within them being stolen.

If you have any concerns regarding your local area, please contact your local officers via:
BedfordUrbanNPT@beds.police.uk

Issued 01 February 2026

Drugs - High visibility and plain clothes patrols within Queens Park to detect and deter street level drug dealing. Working in partnership with internal departments and other partner agencies to identify offenders and bring them to justice.

Vehicle Interference/Theft from motor vehicles - High visibility and plain clothes patrols within Queens Park to detect and deter criminal activity. Providing crime prevention advice to local residents as to how improve vehicle security.

Actioned 01 February 2026

Community Priority for Castle.

01st February 2026 to 01st August 2026.

During the priority setting meeting held on 31st January 2026 your local councillors met with your local policing team where the following priorities have been identified and agreed:

SPEEDING across the ward will be the continuing focus of the next 3 months.

If you have any concerns regarding your local area, please contact your local officers via:
BedfordUrbanNPT@beds.police.uk

Issued 01 February 2026

Priority extended, officers have conducted speed checks and are awaiting result of speed survey in order to get informed enforcement and work with local authority on designing the speed out of the roads.
Continued speed enforcement activity will continue along with liaising with local residents associations, schools and other partner agencies to improve road safety within Castle ward.

Actioned 01 February 2026