Devon and Cornwall Police tackle anti-social behaviour with increased patrols
It's part of ASB Awareness Week.
Devon and Cornwall Police are cracking down on anti-social behaviour.
Officers are targeting hotspot areas - with nearly 5-thousand hours of additional patrols carried out between May and October this year, resulting in 140 arrests.
143 ASB powers were also used by officers, including enforcing Public Spaces Protection Orders and issuing Community Protection Notice Warnings.
It comes amid ASB Awareness Week - with the force hosting a community engagement event in Plymouth earlier this week.
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez secured £1 million of Home Office money to fund the hotspot policing. A further £200,000 was provided in match funding from the Commissioner in order to maximise the number of partner patrols.
Chief Inspector Tim Evans, who heads up hotspot policing for Devon & Cornwall Police, said: “Hotspot policing is an effective way to address antisocial behaviour. The results we’ve seen so far demonstrate the value of this focused approach but the impact of police and street marshals spending time on foot where the public want to see them shouldn’t be overlooked either. The feedback I’m receiving from our partners is really positive about the difference these patrols are making locally.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “ASB Awareness Week is a valuable opportunity to show our communities that if they report antisocial behaviour we take it seriously. ASB Case Reviews are a vital tool for residents who have reported ASB three or more times in a six month period. Raising awareness of this process is key to ensure these problems can be dealt with,”
“Reducing ASB continues to be a priority for me. I am committed to supporting initiatives like hotspot policing and Street Focus: Torquay which demonstrate the power of partnership working. These projects will be used as a blueprint for other areas across the peninsula so we can continue building safer communities.”