BROMSGROVE Police’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) have joined a national campaign which brings together people and organisations to take a stand against anti-social behaviour (ASB) and make communities safer.
Between July 19 and 25, officers carried out visits to schools and held street surgeries last week to mark the UK’s first ever ASB Awareness Week.
The event was organised by community safety specialists Resolve and is backed by the (Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Local Government Association (LGA), National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC).
One example of partnership working saw the SNTs work with Bromsgrove District Housing Trust to target a resident in Green Lane, Catshill, who had caused numerous problems to the local community in the past two years.
A lot of hard work was carried out by the police and the housing provider to gather evidence – a process which took over nine months – and, after being served with papers last week, the troublesome tenant left the property.
PC Barney Kelso, who worked with other SNT members, including PC Lloyd Stone and PCSO Simon Cadwallader, said: “We work closely with BDHT and other partner agencies to tackle ASB within the community.
“The individual concerned was well known to the police in Bromsgrove and had been given numerous chances by BDHT and the police to change his ways.
“He chose not to take the advice given to him.
“To threaten neighbours, be verbally aggressive to most who crossed his path, ride mini motors at all times of day and night causing people not to sleep is just a brief snapshot of some of what he did.
“We have already had neighbours call and state how thankful and relived they are that he has gone.
“One neighbour had moved out temporally solely because of him.
“We as a police service we not tolerate this kind of behaviour.
“We are thankful for the support of BDHT and other partner agencies in this case.”
Rebecca Bryant OBE, chief executive of Resolve, said: “We need to change the way we think about ASB. It is not low-level crime.
“It devastates the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.
“As the nation begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic and our society and economy celebrates the start of return to normal life, it is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs nationally and locally so that people feel safe in their homes and communities.
“We are delighted to have West Mercia Police involved in this hugely important and successful campaign.
“It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community.”
Visit www.resolveuk.org.uk/asbawarenessweek for more information on ASB Awareness Week.
