Wiltshire Police stepping up efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour
Officers are getting extra training to deal with the issue
Wiltshire Police officers are being given additional training, in an effort to deal with anti-social behaviour (ASB).
The extra training's been delivered to twenty frontline staff members so far, making them ASB advisors.
That means they've got a greater understanding of the police's tools and powers to stop incidents; identifying where other agencies would be better placed to help; and recognising and mitigating the impact that can be caused to communities.
Problem Solving and Prevention Supervisor Emma Reid, who organised the training said:
"We know antisocial behaviour can adversely affect people’s everyday lives. We all deserve to live free from intimidation and harassment and we will endeavour to deal with those perpetrators, together with our partner agencies.
"We are committed to tackling it, as it can have a lasting impact upon our communities which we are dedicated to protecting. We know it’s not a low-level crime, it can be devasting for those who become victim to it, and can it be a pre-curser to more serious crime. Often people even consider moving house to escape antisocial behaviour."
Safer Spaces is one of the top priorities for Chief Constable Catherine Roper, and anti-social behaviour is a big part to that.
Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson, who has made tackling crimes which matter to local communities as a key priority for Wiltshire Police in his Police and Crime Plan, said:
“There is still so much more work to do to meet the challenges our local communities have, head-on, and Wiltshire and Swindon’s residents deserve safer communities.
“This extra training for officers has been funded through the Neighbourhood Harm Reduction Unit, a partnership between Wiltshire Police and my office dedicated to providing crime prevention, community engagement and harm reduction interventions.
“My office’s Community Remedy can also be used to help fight anti-social behaviour in communities, as it provides a list of potential consequences that first time and low-level offenders may face and means local people can have a say in how offenders should face up to their actions and make amends, while providing victims of low-level crimes and anti-social behaviour with a route for swifter justice.
“This, alongside increased intelligence reporting to Wiltshire Police, use of Safer Streets funding by local authorities on practical deterrents such as increased CCTV and street lighting, in addition to communities and organisations working together to access the Commissioner's Community Action Fund to help with diversionary activities, can help fight anti-social behaviour in communities and make Wiltshire a safer place to live, work and visit."