Police to adopt new ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ tactic, as Home Secretary launches consultation on new offences to frustrate criminal enterprises.
Efforts to clamp down on organized criminal gangs and drive illegal drugs and violent crime from our communities are being stepped up by the government today.
All police forces across England and Wales will adopt a new approach for tackling serious and organized crime, after early signs of success have been seen by forces already piloting the strategy – with West Yorkshire police reporting a significant drop in burglaries, drug offenses, and antisocial behavior in its pilot area.
‘Clear, Hold, Build’ is a multi-agency partnership tactic, designed by the Home Office and endorsed by the Policing Inspectorate, to rescue areas of the country most blighted by organized crime.
This sees police ruthlessly pursue gang members to clear an area; maintain grip and hold the location, so another gang can’t take control in the vacuum; and then work to build the community into a more prosperous area, less susceptible to the draw of crime groups.
The government has also launched a consultation on potential new laws to criminalize the making, supply, and possession of items strongly suspected to facilitate serious crime – such as digital templates for 3D-printing firearms components, pill presses, and sophisticated encrypted communication devices.
The consultation will also look at strengthening serious crime prevention orders to make it easier for police and other law enforcement agencies to place restrictions on suspected offenders and stop them from participating in further crime.
Around £2 million will be invested to support the roll-out of ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ in the highest-harm hot-spot areas in England and Wales to include newly organized crime coordinators to work with regional organized crime units and forces.
The program has already been piloted by seven police forces since 2020 to positive effect, improving community resilience to serious and organized crime but also showing the potential to impact wider crime reduction.
According to Merseyside Police, between August and October last year, the program yielded a significant increase in operational outcomes in high-harm areas including 420 arrests, 11 firearms, 90 vehicle seizures, and 78 warrants executed.
After 9-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed last year, the Home Office provided Merseyside Police with £350,000 to expand the roll-out of ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ which was already being trialed in the region, to more hot-spot sites.
There were also several crime reductions within the pilot site in West Yorkshire including a 57% reduction in burglary, a 27% reduction in drug offenses, and a 38% reduction in antisocial behavior.
Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said:
Enough is enough. We cannot allow depraved criminals to operate under the radar, inciting fear in our communities and profiting from the devastation they cause.
Clear, Hold, Build is a common-sense policing approach. Taking out these gangs will prevent violence, stem the flow of harmful drugs poisoning our communities, and cut down on antisocial behavior. That will, in turn, create a brighter future for young people in those areas.
Gun crime in this country is thankfully still rare, but the recent spate of tragic shootings is a stark reminder of what is at stake when gang violence spills onto our streets I’ve recently written to affected families to pass on my condolences and deep concern.
If stronger laws are also necessary to protect the public, I will not hesitate to act.