Reduction in anti-social behaviour after more police patrols in parts of Staffordshire
Stats from a national report show a reduction in reports from members of the public, year on year
It's claimed that there has been a reduction in anti-social behaviour in parts of Staffordshire, after more police patrols.
Six months ago the Government launched an Anti-Social Behaviour Action - which involved extra resources in so called 'hotspot' areas.
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.
The government now claim 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.
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.”
Nationally, 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.