As the festive season gets underway, the government has announced a major new crackdown on crime, pledging a visible and relentless police presence to protect the public. The 'Winter of Action' initiative, launched on 3 December 2025, aims to deliver fast improvements in safety during the busiest months of the year.
A Nationwide Push for Safer Streets
Writing for The Mirror, Policing Minister Sarah Jones stated that while winter is a time for celebration, it is also a period when criminals often target shoppers, businesses, and transport hubs. The new nationwide effort will focus on combating street robbery, open drug dealing, persistent antisocial behaviour (ASB), and retail crime.
The initiative builds on the Safer Streets Summer programme, which operated across 649 town centres. That earlier push resulted in over 16,000 arrests and fines for offences like shop theft and ASB, alongside a 17% increase in targeted visible patrols compared to the year before.
The Winter of Action will see practical steps taken immediately, including more officers deployed in the right places at the right times. Police will work alongside local authorities, youth teams, and retailers to tackle the root causes of crime.
Innovative Tech to Combat Knife Crime
Alongside the heightened patrols, the government is rolling out a new data-led approach to tackling knife crime in England and Wales. A key tool in this effort is 'Hex mapping', a system that breaks towns and cities into small hexagonal zones to identify hyper-local crime hotspots.
This technology will enable police to partner with communities, advocacy groups, and youth outreach teams to spot emerging problems and take coordinated action. "It will allow the police to partner with local communities... to spot a problem and take action together to stop it," Minister Jones explained.
The push comes as new data shows progress is being made. In the last year, nearly 60,000 knives have been removed from streets in England and Wales through surrender schemes and police operations. Knife homicides have fallen by almost 20%, and overall knife crime has dropped by 5%—the first decrease in four years. NHS data also indicates a 10% reduction in hospital admissions for knife assaults.
Visible Presence to Reclaim Public Spaces
The public can expect to see a significant difference on the streets this winter. The plan includes increased patrols in known hotspots, high-visibility teams in town centres, and coordinated operations across transport networks.
"Visibility deters crime and sends a clear message: our public spaces belong to the law-abiding majority, not criminals," Jones emphasised. The ultimate measure of success, she noted, will be in human terms: fewer victims, fewer weapons on the streets, and restored public confidence in both their local area and the police.
The Minister concluded with a simple, firm message for the season: "This winter, the message is simple: we will be present, visible and relentless." The government vows to focus on areas where harm is concentrated, back officers with strong partnerships, and stand with communities to reclaim public spaces.
