New Policing Team Launched in New Forest to Target High Harm Offenders and Combat
Drug-Related Crime

The New Forest district has launched a new policing team to combat areas of high harm in local communities. The New Forest High Harm Team, which began operating on 20 March, will be led by Sergeant Andy Gwyer and comprise four police officers, with the potential to expand in the future.

The team’s primary focus will be on managing high harm offenders, carrying out proactive patrols, and working with other forces to reduce cross-border criminality. The team will also tackle drug-related harm, targeting county lines and the hidden impact of drug-related crimes within local communities. The team will regularly visit vulnerable people at risk of being exploited by drug dealers, providing support and protection.

The New Forest High Harm Team will be based out of Lyndhurst Police Station but will cover the entire New Forest district. The team’s work will be adaptable and driven by intelligence and crime trends in the area, achieved through a mixture of high-visibility patrols and plain clothes operations in hot-spot areas.

Chief Inspector Nick Marsden, District Commander for the New Forest, said: “I’m pleased we have been able to set up this team and make sure the New Forest remains a safe place for our residents and visitors. High Harm Teams have enjoyed great success in other districts across the county, and I am keen to see this replicated here.”

The team’s portfolio will also include supporting local Neighbourhood Policing objectives, preventing crime and catching offenders. Marsden added: “We are always looking at how we can best serve the public, and so the work of this team will be adaptable and driven by intelligence and crime trends we are seeing in the area.”

If anyone spots anything suspicious or has been a victim of crime, they can report it through the online reporting portal or by calling 101. In the case of a crime in progress, people can dial 999 immediately.