Surrey Police urge people to report incidents of antisocial behaviour
This week is antisocial behaviour awareness week
Surrey Police are encouraging people to report antisocial behaviour, as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the issue.
This week is the first ever national antisocial behaviour awareness week.
However, Surrey Police have marked the week for the past 5 years.
Jo Grimshaw, Head of Antisocial Behaviour at Surrey Police, said:
"Antisocial behaviour is not a low level crime. It can have far reaching and harmful consequences if it is not tackled.
"So if you know anyone who is suffering from antisocial behaviour or you are suffering from it yourself, please try and report it".
What is antisocial behaviour?
Antisocial behaviour is defined as any conduct that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person.
To help Surrey residents better understand it, Jo Grimshaw explains it as "behaviour that is aggressive, intimidating or destructive in its activity, that damages or destroys another person's quality of life".
Jo Grimshaw, Head of Anti-Social Behaviour for Surrey Police, said:
"It's been really important to raise awareness of antisocial behaviour, raise awareness of the harm it causes and, more importantly, how people who are victims or antisocial behaviour can seek advice and help to help tackle the issues that are happening in their communities and in their homes".
"During lockdown, Surrey Police and partner agencies have seen an increase in reports of antisocial behaviour. I think some of that is to do with breaches of the Covid restrictions being seen as antisocial behaviour, but more the fact that people have not been going to work and living at home.
"They are more likely to see some of the issues that may be going around in their communities. Also, it might be the first time they have spent a lot of time living quite closely to their neighbours and not going out to work and not being allowed out to go and do leisure activities".
What's happening in Surrey for antisocial behaviour awareness week?
Jo Grimshaw said: "If you're on social media, you'll see lots of activity where Police, Housing Associations, local authorities, environmental health, joint enforcement teams are out and about in the community, either doing some work around tackling antisocial behaviour or out engaging with the community, with the local residents to make sure they fully understand what we can do to help tackle antisocial behaviour".
Surrey Police are also hosting a live on Facebook on Thursday at 6pm, where there will be a panel of ASB specialists who will be taking questions.