There's been a big drop in reports of anti-social behaviour in Grimsby over the summer
Police are largely putting it down to the Streets Ahead initiative
Problems with anti-social behaviour in Grimsby fell significantly during the summer. The drop is being put down to the creation of the Streets Ahead project which provided youngsters with activities throughout the holidays as well as discussions on topics like drugs.
PCSO Chris Arnold from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team said:
“The team have been providing a whole host of activities for the kids to get involved with, whilst also educating and raising awareness of weapons, drugs and spotting the signs of exploitation.
“It’s important we recognise that the issues can’t all be solved solely by policing or enforcement, which is why working with our partners to prevent crime and provide positive diversion is absolutely crucial.
“The engagement from the children and youths throughout has been commendable and encouraging to see, as they really got involved with the conversations around the impact anti-social behaviour can have on the local community, as well as the dangers of organised crime.
“We provided opportunities for the young people to take part in fun activities such as dance, swimming and skateboarding, which were all delivered by local companies so the youngsters could carry on these activities if the Streets Ahead project has sparked an interest.”
The scheme was particularly focused on children transitioning between primary and secondary schools and in areas that had previously seen high levels of anti-social behaviour during the summer.
“We also got the youngsters involved in scenario-based games,” said PCSO Arnold. “These games helped show them the direct impact of anti-social behaviour, taking substances and going missing.
“We hope that some of these children will continue to engage in the activities they got involved with and are thankful for the positive feedback received from parents, the children and the community so far.”