Basildon: Robberies fall by 30% as impact of Op Mantis is felt

The operation to combat high-harm crime in Basildon has seen a 30% drop in street robberies and more than 80 arrests made.

Operation Mantis was established to target individuals know to be involved in knife crime, drug dealing and robbery after several incidents in the town at the end of last year.

Mantis operations have also seen more than 30 people remanded in custody, and in excess of 100 stop and searches - a significant number of which have led to arrests.

The new OpenGate mobile detection system has been deployed at key locations to catch those carrying weapons, and Mantis work has seen machetes, knuckledusters, flick knives and Rambo knives seized.

The team were also instrumental in the capture of serial burglars working across the county, and arrested the individual charged with the murder of Terry Leeks in Northlands Park.

Basildon District Commander Chief Inspector Dan McHugh said combating high-harm crime is a priority for his team and that Mantis was getting results:

“The team identified and targeted a cohort of repeat offenders linked to a number of violent incidents. We have made significant arrests and secured multiple charges for serious offending against members of this group.

“This has led directly to a drop in offending. Either they’ve decided to change their behaviour as they kept getting arrested or we’ve imprisoned them.

“We’ve also targeted hotspot areas that have seen violence and made sure we have our officers in those places at the right times.

“Major improvements in CCTV and lighting have given the team a greater ability to capture evidence, and deterred offending.

“We are laser-focussed on reducing violence in all its forms, whether that’s knife crime or violence in the community, and this operation has had a significant impact in making Basildon safer.”

Long-term strategies have also been put in place with partners including the council, the youth offending team, the probation service and local schools to reach associates of the group targeted to deter them from committing crime or prevent them from reoffending.

Ch Insp McHugh added: “Prevention is key. It’s not just about hunting down those violent offenders, it’s about signposting them to diversionary partners and we’re working very closely with 1 Up in Basildon and our colleagues at the council and in social care.

“We’re reaching out into the wider community to divert young people away from gang affiliation by showing them the benefits of steering clear of that lifestyle and highlighting what may happen if they carry on along that road.

“If they choose violence and the criminal lifestyle, they will have the full force of the law coming down on them.”

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