Over 30,000 hours of extra uniformed patrols has helped drive down anti-social behaviour
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Over 30,000 additional hours and 1,500 enforcement actions
including arrests and stop and searches under the government’s
Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan 36% reduction in reports of
anti-social behaviour incidents in some ‘hotspot’ areas At least
150,000 hours of ‘hotspot’ policing on track to be delivered by
March 2024 Over 30,000 additional hours of targeted uniformed
patrols in ‘hotspot’ areas has helped drive down anti-social
behaviour by over...Request free trial
Over 30,000 additional hours of targeted uniformed patrols in ‘hotspot’ areas has helped drive down anti-social behaviour by over 30 per cent in some areas according to reports from Police and Crime Commissioners. These extra patrols, along with hundreds more arrests and stop and searches, were just one part of the Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, launched six months ago. The latest data shows that since hotspot uniformed patrols have been rolled out in ten pilot areas, there has been over 250 arrests, over 600 stop and searches and around 1000 other enforcement actions such as community protection notices and public protection orders. Through the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan up to £20m of funding will be invested in 16 pilot areas to trial either ‘hotspot’ police and enforcement patrols, or a new ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme to bring in swift and visible punishments to perpetrators of anti-social behaviour. Some areas are trialling both schemes. Thanks to this work, several ‘hotspot’ trial forces have reported significant declines in anti-social behaviour. The Lancashire Constabulary have reported that in Brunswick, Blackpool, there has been a 36% fall in reported incidents of anti-social behaviour compared to the same period last year when hotspot patrols were not in place. Staffordshire Police have reported a combined 20% fall in reported incidents of anti-social behaviour across five locations in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle under-Lyme compared to the previous year. It is estimated that that at least 150,000 hours of additional individual police and partner ‘hotspot’ patrols will be delivered by March 2024 across the ten pilot areas before the initiative is rolled out across every police force in England and Wales later in the year. Crime and Policing Minister Chris Philip said: “Anti-social behaviour ruins neighbourhoods and brings fear and misery to local people, be it people smoking cannabis in the street, intimidating gatherings in public spaces or acts of vandalism. “We will not tolerate it. I am delighted that our action plan and zero-tolerance approach is beginning to have a positive impact in communities up and down the country. “By giving the police and local partners the tools they need to tackle anti-social behaviour we can help ensure wherever people live they can feel safe and proud of the place they call home.” Today’s announcement coincides with a meeting of the anti-social behaviour Taskforce. Jointly led by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, this will bring together Police and Crime Commissioners, police chiefs, and local partners to continue to drive progress on the government‘s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan. The meeting will allow those on the ground to give first-hand account of what is working in the fight against anti-social behaviour in their local area community and enable Ministers to be sure that those on the front line have the tools they need. This comes after the government recently announced that possession of nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing gas’, will be illegal from 8 November 2023, delivering on the Home Secretary’s pledge to get tougher on flagrant drug taking in local communities and associated anti-social behaviour. Other measures that have been delivered since the launch of the plan include:
In the coming months we will launch the Anti-Social Behaviour One-Stop-Shop where people can report anti-social behaviour to the right local responders and get feedback on the response. This will also enable local agencies to share information on perpetrators of anti-social behaviour within communities, identify repeat offenders and take necessary action. This tool will ensure that members of the public can find local services that are best placed to act on their reports of anti-social behaviour and to build confidence that reports will be taken seriously and addressed. Further action also being taken over the coming months includes:
Rebecca Bryant OBE, Chief Executive of Resolve said: “We know from our own research that many victims and witnesses don’t report anti-social behaviour, but they’d be more likely to report behaviour if there was a more visible police and agency presence. “This 'hotspot' approach makes the best use of - limited - resources, and we very much look forward to seeing it rolled out across the country. “ Case study 1: Lancashire Constabulary This year hotspot patrols in Brunswick, Blackpool by Lancashire Constabulary during July, August and September have seen police working with local partners to tackle anti-social behaviour including begging, sex working and threatening behaviour. The increased presence of officers on the street has seen reports of incidents anti-social behaviour decline by 36.6% compared to the same period last year. Case study 2: Staffordshire Police This year hotspot policing by Staffordshire Police during July, August, and September in 5 hotspot areas in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle under-Lyme has seen a combined decline in reported incidents of anti-social behaviour of 20% by members of the public compared to the same period last year. In Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre additional police patrols were put in place to combat drug and alcohol related anti-social behaviour. After identifying areas where drug paraphernalia was being discarded, follow up work with partner agencies by the police took place to clean up the area alongside high visibility patrols to provide reassurance to the local community and deter drug users. After dispersing groups of young people, a quantity of drugs, including monkey dust and cannabis, was seized alongside several knives. Case study 3: Essex Police Over 2,757 hours of police patrols, and 1,400 hours of Community Safety Partnership patrols, have now been delivered in eleven anti-social behaviour hotspots across Essex. As a result, there has been 35 arrests, 109 Stop and Searches, 58 Informal Warnings issued and 45 Fixed Penalty Notices issued. In one pilot area, Debden, police and Community Safety Partnership teams have worked collaboratively to use a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle a high volume of anti-social behaviour incidents relating to drug taking, nuisance noise, aggressive begging, intimidation and fighting. This work has made a difference to local business owners and the public who praised the positive proactive work of the team. Case study 4: Sussex Police In Sussex, a man was caught graffiti tagging on an industrial estate, damaging property and causing a negative effect on surrounding businesses, staff and members of public passing through the area. The individual was referred by officers into the Immediate Justice Scheme and he was required to carry out reparative work within Brighton’s city centre, including litter picking and weeding public planters in an area known for ASB incidents. ENDS Notes to editors:
o Up to £60m to fund an increased police and other uniformed presence to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, targeting hotspots. We are working with 10 police force areas who have started their patrols from July 2023 and from 2024 we will support a hotspot approach across every police force area in England and Wales, which will see thousands of additional patrols taking place in places blighted by anti-social behaviour. o In addition, we are providing up to £50m to establish new Immediate Justice pathways aimed at delivering swift, visible punishment for anti-social behaviour. This has started in 10 initial pilot police force areas in July 2023 and will be rolled out across England and Wales in 2024.
o To learn more about Lancashire Police’s case study please contact: Rachel WhittleRachel.whittle@lancashire-pcc.gov.uk / 01772 536786 o To learn more about Staffordshire Police’s case study please contact: Emily Bladon-Selsbypress.office@staffordshire-pfcc.gov.uk / 01785 232385 o To learn more about Essex Police’s case study please contact: E-EPPFCCMedia@KPEP.onmicrosoft.com |