Why it matters: Clear Hold Build represents a fundamental shift from traditional policing to a comprehensive approach that addresses both immediate criminal activity and underlying causes of crime in communities.
The big picture: The initiative has been deployed across the country with police saying it has delivered proven results in reducing organised crime, violence and anti-social behaviour while strengthening partnership work and community relationships.
How it works: The strategy operates in three distinct phases designed to create lasting change rather than temporary enforcement:
CLEAR – targeted activity and crime disruption through concentrated police operations to remove criminal elements from the area.
HOLD – stabilising the area to prevent criminals from moving in to fill any void through continued enforcement and partner interventions.
BUILD – partner and community-driven action to address the root causes of criminality and prevent it from happening again.
Making it happen in Ipswich: Suffolk Constabulary and Ipswich Borough Council are jointly leading the tactic in Gipping and Westgate wards, supported by Trading Standards, Immigration and HM Revenue & Customs. The approach puts the community at the centre of the response, ensuring a unified approach to make areas safer.
The strategy includes extensive outreach work with local groups, including the Maple Park Sports Project, Let's Clean Together, ASB Awareness Week, Future Female Society, school programmes and the Suffolk Ethnic Police Association community events.
The council secured £43,500 from the Serious Violence Duty to increase CCTV coverage and implement joint information-sharing systems. Council teams, including ASB, Environmental Health, Licensing, Private Sector Housing and Waste, have been mobilised with their specialist enforcement powers.
What they're saying: Superintendent Andy Martin said: "We know what damage can be done to an area by a relatively small number of criminals, and the effects anti-social behaviour, violence and the supply of drugs have on a community."
"This is not just about enforcement, as we know this won't give the sustained change we want and that these communities deserve. This is only the beginning. We want the communities to play a key role and actively engage with us," he added.
John Cook, Ipswich Borough Council portfolio holder for Communities and Sport, said: "The council and police will work together with resident groups, local businesses and other community stakeholders to make sure that every phase of the initiative not only addresses the criminal activity but also ensures that long-term the area is vibrant, safe, and attractive both in the daytime and at night."
Progress so far: Since March, the clear phase has produced 90 arrests, £200,000 worth of cocaine seized, two cannabis factories dismantled and three brothels identified. Officers conducted 36 premises visits and 18 safeguarding checks targeting "cuckooing" – where criminals take over vulnerable people's homes.
The bottom line: Clear Hold Build aims to transform crime-fighting from reactive policing to proactive community building, requiring sustained partnership between agencies and residents to address both criminal activity and its underlying causes.
