Your neighbourhood policing team
My name is Steven Benbow and I am the Neighbourhood Inspector responsible for Cheltenham.
I joined Gloucestershire Constabulary in 2006 as a Police Community Support Officer in Cheltenham. This is where my enthusiasm for Neighbourhood Policing began.
In 2013 I joined as a police officer and worked in various departments including the Investigation Team and Response Teams in Cheltenham and Gloucester, but my passion still remained in Neighbourhood Policing and I knew this is where I wanted my career to develop.
I believe that by working with our community and partners we can create a safe town for all to enjoy, especially within the day and night time economies. It is vital that your Neighbourhood Policing Team builds strong relationships and understands the concerns of the community. Creating innovative ideas and partnerships within the community is key to understanding how Neighbourhood Policing can help the wide range of communities we police.
I was born and brought up in Cheltenham and I continue to love the town I live and raise my family in. I am proud to be from Cheltenham (especially having played in goal for the Robins for a small time) and I will strive for it to be a town we are all proud to live in.
Sgt Ashfield joined Gloucestershire Police in 2019. He has worked in both Gloucester and Cheltenham, however the majority of his career has been as a Response Officer in Cheltenham. He joined the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Team in October 2023. He is committed to working with partner agencies to solve long-term problems within the community and also enjoys the proactive elements of neighbourhood policing.
Crimes and priorities
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Priority:
Action taken:
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Priority:
Working to minimise anti-social behaviour in the Springbank area. In particular ASB in the retail areas and Parks and Gardens.
Action taken:
Work continues as Youths continue to cause ASB in the area. Police are working with Partner agencies, especially youth offending to direct these youths in other directions. ABC's have been issued and the Local Team work with SOLACE to consider Injunctions for those individuals causing the most issue.
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Priority:
The team are focussing on intelligence gathering and taking action to target those on illegal e bikes and scooters.
Action taken:
.Operations have been taking place, where different tactics have been used to identify those on illegal e bikes and scooters, gathering intelligence. Warrants have taken place , linked to those using the Bikes for drug dealing, carrying out ASB and stealing the bikes to re-sell. This work continues as intelligence is gathered. UPDATE one has been arrested for Theft of Bicycle and in a search of home address, Electric Bicycles were found. a Daily SCAN analysis of all incidents is being completed and a spreadsheet noting all incidents reported is being collated to look at the intel etc.. for Operations to be planned into the Summer months.
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Priority:
Cheltenham has seen an increase in Theft from Motor Vehicles, mainly from Vehicles that have been left unlocked and with valuables left in them and on display
Action taken:
An offender has been arrested and was charged with 11 Theft from Motor Vehicles and admitted numerous others. He was responsible for 58% of TFMV. He currently is serving time in Prison.