Working in partnership with other local agencies is at the forefront of our approach to tackling Anti-Social Behaviour, which can blight the lives of residents on the Isle of Wight.
You may be familiar with the name Op Spider, which was established five years ago to address a sharp increase in Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in the Bay area of South Wight.
A police-led partnership approach, Op Spider is focused on reducing ASB, targeting drug and alcohol-related harm, and diverting young people from criminal behaviour in our communities.
A review of Op Spider took place two years ago in 2024, recording a 49 per cent reduction in ASB in the first three years of the operation.
The Op Spider structure has been shared as best practice and continues to deliver, with a further 13.5 per cent reduction in ASB recorded between January 2025 and January 2026 for the Bay.
Of the 78 young people identified as involved in the initial ASB in 2021, 72 have been successfully diverted to supportive agencies, remain clear of the criminal justice system, and are no longer involved in ASB or crime.
It is clear to me that this operation is successful because it takes a wholistic approach to tackling a key issue for our residents.
Op Spider addresses social, health, and educational risks, to tackle both symptoms and causes of ASB.
As I have stated before, our success in policing this issue is only possible through close collaboration with support agencies, schools, youth work providers, housing associations, and health services.
The results are a testament to what we can achieve when working in partnership with the communities we serve.
I am proud of the ongoing work of our dedicated Neighbourhoods Policing Teams across the Island and know they will continue to build on this foundation, continuing to reduce ASB in our towns and diverting young people to meaningful support systems.
Change of Area Commander
I have had the privilege of being the Superintendent for the Island for over three years now.
I can honestly say that this role has been amongst the very best jobs I have had in 30 years of policing, from which I am now retiring.
From the first day, I was struck by the unique spirit and character of our Island police officers and staff.
Not many locations have such a positive “can do” approach to policing that I see day in and day out from our Island teams.
I make this judgement having worked all over the mainland and it is a big reason that I have enjoyed my time here so much.
That positivity extends to our partner agency colleagues.
They exhibit real passion and commitment to do the best that they can for our communities, likely because many of them are Islanders themselves and naturally they want to keep their home a safe place.
A new Commander will be appointed in the coming weeks but during this period, Chief Inspector Andy McDonald will continue to lead as Deputy Commander.’
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