Nottinghamshire Police have appointed Inspector Chris Boylin as the new commander for the Ashfield Neighbourhood Police unit. The unit has four sub-teams, covering Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton in Ashfield, Hucknall and Ashfield Rural.
As he took up his new role, he gave a warning for local drug dealers in the area: to expect a knock on the door as part of a wider crackdown on drug related crime in Nottinghamshire. But he also promised a “firm but fair” approach to often vulnerable drug users who commit offences to fund addictions, offering those committing minor offences in the community a chance and directed to support services as part of community resolutions.
“Drug dealers do a huge amount of damage to our communities, and I want those people to know that they can expect a visit from us”, Inspector Boylin said. “Drug users – the people who become addicted to these substances – can also do a lot of damage from related issues such as theft and antisocial behaviour.
“And I’ve also worked with enough of them over the years to recognise that many of them really need help – and without that help they will simply keep passing in and out of the justice system. We’re often dealing here with people who are leading very chaotic lives, who have serious mental health issues and may live in very poor quality accommodation.
“We also come across young people who are really struggling for a positive role model in life and who are being drawn into drug related crime buy other, more experienced drug dealers. So, where we can, we will be flexible and offer those people a choice – continue down that path and keep getting arrested, or work with us and embrace the support we can direct them to.”
Inspector Boylin joined the police service through Leicestershire Police in 2008. He transferred to Nottinghamshire in 2021 and oversaw the detention of detainees at the new Nottingham Custody suite, a role that has continued to shape his view on policing.
“I believe that community policing is as much about helping people to change their lives as it is about chasing people down and arresting them”, he said. “There’s been some excellent work in this area in the past and I am really looking forward to carrying it on going forward.
“In the past I have been in roles where I’ve really gone from one call out to another without really having the time to put in place longer-term solutions. I am really pleased to have that opportunity here but it is absolutely vital that people tell us about what is happening in their communities – because if we don’t know about thigs we can’t help them.
“So, I urge them to come forward and tell us what is concerning them – either on the phone online or in person at one of our local surgery events.”
You can contact Ashfield Police on the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, call 999.
You can also pass information to the police anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Ashfield Neighbourhood Police unit can also be found online here.
