The countdown to Christmas is on—and while Santa’s prepping his sleigh, Bridlington’s neighbourhood policing teams are also getting ready for one of their busiest times of year.

Throughout December and into early January, expect to see more officers out and about across Bridlington, Driffield, Hornsea and surrounding villages. They’ll be engaging with residents, supporting festive events, and helping keep everyone safe and on the right side of Santa’s list.

Winter of Action Comes to East Yorkshire

This seasonal policing effort is part of the national 'Winter of Action' initiative, building on the success of the 'Safer Streets Summer' campaign. Over the summer, local officers covered thousands of miles on foot and in patrol cars—equivalent to crossing the Humber Bridge over 4,000 times! Their efforts led to a 26.4% drop in anti-social behaviour across the region.

Superintendent Caroline Andrews, who is leading the festive operation, said: “Christmas is a joyful time for many, but it also brings seasonal pressures. We see increases in shop theft, domestic abuse, drink driving, and burglary—especially as gifts start piling up under the tree.”

She added: “Our officers will be visible in town centres, retail parks, and nightlife hotspots, working with partners to prevent crime and protect vulnerable people. We’ll also have plain-clothes teams operating behind the scenes to keep things safe.”

Stay Safe This Season

Here are a few things to watch out for locally:

- Shop theft and retail crime often spike in busy shopping areas like Bridlington town centre and retail parks.

- Burglary tends to rise as opportunistic thieves target homes with visible gifts.

- Drink driving remains a concern—please plan ahead and stick to designated drivers.

- Fraud and scams increase around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so stay vigilant when shopping online.

- Domestic abuse and violent crime sadly rise during the holidays. If you or someone you know needs help, please speak up.

How to Report

- Emergency? Call 999 immediately.

- Non-emergency? Call 101 to report concerns or incidents not currently in progress.

- Want to stay anonymous? Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Stay informed: Sign up for My Community Alert to get updates about what’s happening on your street.

You can also find your local policing team and their priorities by visiting the Humberside Police website and entering your postcode in the “Find Your Area” section.

Let’s work together to make this festive season safe, joyful, and crime-free across Bridlington and East Yorkshire.