Monday 12th January 2026

By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor

Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Bridlington and Driffield are celebrating the impact of their work over the past year, as part of the Home Office’s Winter of Action and the force’s Safer Streets Summer campaign.

Inspector Ian Foster, who leads the teams across both towns, says the focus remains firmly on putting communities first.

“Whether it’s through school visits, community hubs, foot patrols or simply listening to residents, our officers are out there every day tackling the issues that matter most,” said Inspector Foster. “Neighbourhood policing is about building trust, reducing crime and improving lives — and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing.”

From June to September, officers clocked up more than 112 hours of patrols, walking over 158 miles across Bridlington and Driffield. In December alone, as part of Operation Yuletide, they spent 172 hours on foot, covering 351 miles along Bridlington’s coast — engaging with residents, businesses and visitors during the busy festive season.

The results speak for themselves. Across the area, there’s been a noticeable drop in antisocial behaviour, theft and violent crime. In Bridlington, shop thefts fell from 276 offences in 2024 to just 138 in 2025.

Officers have also carried out plain-clothed drugs operations, supported by passive drugs dogs, Special Constables and other departments. Patrols — both on foot and in vehicles — have targeted hotspot areas flagged by the public.

Inspector Foster added: “We take a problem-solving approach, looking at criminal and civil orders, safeguarding concerns and working with partner agencies to find long-term solutions. Our PCSOs and beat officers are out there every day, gathering information, preventing crime and supporting vulnerable people.”

The teams tailor their approach to each community, using tools like Humber Talking surveys, Independent Advisory Groups, police surgeries and local events to understand what’s happening on the ground and respond effectively.

Operation Yuletide helped maintain momentum from the summer, while adapting to seasonal pressures like increased retail activity, festive events, and the night-time economy. Officers carried out high-visibility patrols and dedicated retail visits to support businesses and keep the public safe.

“We’re proud of the work we’ve done, but it doesn’t stop here,” said Inspector Foster. “We want residents to keep talking to us — whether that’s face-to-face, through surveys, or by contacting us directly.”

You can reach Humberside Police online, via the non-emergency number 101, or call 999 in an emergency.

What is antisocial behaviour?

There are three main categories for antisocial behaviour, depending on how many people are affected:

- Personal antisocial behaviour is when a person targets a specific individual or group.

- Nuisance antisocial behaviour is when a person causes trouble, annoyance or suffering to a community.

- Environmental antisocial behaviour is when a person’s actions affect the wider environment, such as public spaces or buildings.

Under these main headings antisocial behaviour falls into one of 13 different types:

- Vehicle abandoned: This covers vehicles that appear to have been left by their owner, rather than stolen and abandoned. It includes scrap or ‘end of life’ vehicles and those damaged at the scene of a road traffic collision that have been abandoned and aren’t awaiting recovery.

- Vehicle nuisance or inappropriate use: This relates to vehicles being used in acts such as street cruising (driving up and down the street causing annoyance and bothering other road users), vehicle convoys and riding or driving on land other than a road. It also covers the misuse of go-peds, motorised skateboards and electric-propelled cycles, and the unlicensed dealing of vehicles where a person has two or more vehicles on the same road within 500 metres of each other.

- Rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour: This refers to general nuisance behaviour in a public place or a place to which the public have access, such as private clubs. It does not include domestic-related behaviour, harassment or public disorder which should be reported as crimes.

- Rowdy or nuisance neighbours: This covers any rowdy behaviour or general nuisance caused by neighbours, including boundary and parking disputes. It also covers noise nuisance from parties or playing loud music.

- Littering or drugs paraphernalia: This includes fly posting and discarding litter, rubbish or drugs paraphernalia in any public place.

- Animal problems: This covers any situation where animals are creating a nuisance or people’s behaviour associated with the use of animals is deemed as antisocial. It includes uncontrolled animals, stray dogs, barking, fouling and intimidation by an animal.

- Trespassing: This is any situation in which people have entered land, water or premises without lawful authority or permission. It ranges from taking an unauthorised shortcut through a garden to setting up unauthorised campsites.

- Nuisance calls: This covers any type of communication by phone that causes anxiety and annoyance, including silent calls and intrusive ‘cold calling’ from businesses. It does not cover indecent, threatening or offensive behaviour which should be reported as crimes.

- Street drinking: This relates to unlicensed drinking in public spaces, where the behaviour of the persons involved is deemed as antisocial. It also covers unplanned and spontaneous parties which encroach on the street.

- Activity relating to sex workers or sex working: This relates to any activity such as loitering, displaying cards or promoting sex worker services. It may also refer to activities in and around a brothel that impact on local residents. It does not include ‘kerb-crawling’ which should be reported as a crime.

- Nuisance noise: This relates to all incidents of noise nuisance that do not involve neighbours (see ‘Nuisance neighbours’ above).

- Begging: This covers anyone begging or asking for charitable donations in a public place, or encouraging a child to do so, without a license. Unlicensed ticket sellers at or near public transport hubs may also fall into this category.

- Misuse of fireworks: This will include the inappropriate use of fireworks, the unlawful sale or possession of fireworks and noise created by fireworks.

If you’re experiencing any of the above, we may be able to help.