On Friday 18th July, a coordinated Community Action Day took place in Huntingdon, bringing together multiple partner agencies, including Cambridgeshire Police, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC).
Representing HDC were officers from the Community Action Team, Licensing, and Environmental Health, who joined forces with colleagues from other agencies to tackle local issues head-on.
Throughout the day, officers were visible across Huntingdon town centre conducting business compliance checks, reviewing trade waste management, engaging with residents and businesses, and seizing illegal goods.
A major outcome of the day was the seizure of over 500 illegal vapes from a single location, along with the identification of suspicious activity at a vacant business premises, which prompted further police investigation.
Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance, Cllr Stephen Ferguson, said: "Days like these are a powerful example of what we can achieve when agencies work together. Not only are we supporting businesses to stay compliant, but we’re also helping to keep our communities safe. This is the kind of vital work our HDC officers carry out day in, day out, and it’s fantastic to have an opportunity like this to highlight their ongoing efforts."
Huntingdon Neighbourhood Sergeant, Anna Martin. “We work hard to keep our communities safe from harm and illegal vapes pose a serious risk to health as well as fuelling funding for other related criminal activity. “Joint partnership working allows us to crackdown on issues in local communities. This is part of the ongoing work our neighbourhood policing teams do consistently to ensure we are responding to their concerns.”
Watch Commander Leon Collins, Fire Protection Officer at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, added: “Myself and Watch Commander Paul Langford joined our partners to help support local businesses and safeguard the community.
“Throughout the day, we engaged directly with a number of local business owners across the town centre, providing practical fire safety guidance and tailored advice to help them remain compliant with fire safety legislation. Our conversations focused on fire risk assessments, appropriate storage of flammable materials, and the importance of maintaining clear escape routes and functioning fire alarms.
“By being visible and accessible, we were able to support the business community not only in meeting their legal responsibilities but also in understanding the importance of preventative fire safety measures. In doing so, we help to reduce risk and increase awareness, contributing to safer business environments for staff, customers, and the wider public.”