PCC highlights progress in tackling anti-social behaviour across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston has welcomed the positive strides being made to crack down on anti-social behaviour (ASB) as National Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week is marked up and down the country.  

The week, which runs from 29th June to 5th July, highlights the impact ASB can have on communities and the importance of partnership working to strengthen communities.

Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is one of five key pillars in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan which is shaped by the views and experiences of residents across the force area.  

The Commissioner works in conjunction with the area’s six Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) and other agencies to coordinate activity to make communities safer and more resilient to harm, focusing on the priorities that matter most to residents.  

CSPs – made up of local partners including councils, police, fire and rescue and community representatives – can address local issues that policing cannot solve alone such as fly-tipping, bike theft and vandalism. 

Across the life of his Police and Crime Plan, the Commissioner has invested almost £1m into dedicated Problem-Solving Coordinator posts in each of the six CSP areas to support partners to tackle the root causes of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour (ASB).  

Darryl said: “It is encouraging to reflect on our success over the past year and take stock of the dividends from our investment.  

“Specialist resources, community-level problem solving and increased visible and proactive enforcement are undoubtedly making a difference, helping to reduce risk and harm, improve feelings of safety and confidence and ensure more offenders are held accountable for their actions.  

“Improving public safety is a joint responsibility. Partnerships are everything in public safety and much of our success is testament to a partnership ethos and the coordination of vision and efforts to tackle local issues of concern at their roots to prevent problems from escalating or happening in the first place. 

“I want to recognise everyone involved from our frontline officers, staff and volunteers to our community safety and justice partners who play a vital role in delivering a safer and stronger Cambridgeshire. There is much more to do, but the public can rest assured we will leave no stone unturned in our mission to protect our people and help our county to thrive.” 

Recent success from the investment includes: 

Cambridge CSP teaming up with the Neighbourhood Policing Team to deliver community safety events alongside Cambridgeshire County Council and CAMBAC (Cambridge Businesses Against Crime). Through awareness raising activities such as door knocking and letter drops to households, intelligence sharing on suspected drug activity and cuckooing, installation of re-deployable CCTV and welfare visits to vulnerable tenants, issues such as harassment and intimidation, vandalism and graffiti, fly-tipping and misuse of public spaces have been resolved.  

Ongoing nuisance in East Cambs, involving persistent and serious ASB was dealt with through partnership working led by East Cambs CSP. Disorder including frequent loud music significantly impacted residents leading to a reduced quality of life for everyone living nearby. A coordinated multi-agency response led by East Cambridgeshire District Council was initiated involving the Environmental Heath team. ASB surveys were conducted through resident engagement and police supported with intelligence gathering. The resulting closure order of the property for three months in May of this year led to immediate relief for all those affected.  

Revving engines, inappropriate speed and anti-social driving came to the attention of Fenland CSP who immediately worked with the Fenland Neighbourhood Policing Team to apprehend those causing the disruption. As a result, three Section 59 Police Reform Act warnings were issued for ASB driving, alongside one Section 165 seizure for a motorbike with no insurance, the seizure of an electric scooter and the issue of a ‘fail to stop’ motorcycle offence.  

In Huntingdonshire, diversion staff, who work with young people, help tackle ASB in hotspot locations. Through working closely with agencies, particularly police and local CCTV teams, Huntingdonshire District Community Safety team gathered evidence for issues around anti-social driving in Huntingdon Town Centre. As a result, those causing disruption were issued with relevant warnings by local Neighbourhood Police. 

In Peterborough, reports of car gatherings, drug taking, loud noise and fly-tipping were causing misery for elderly and vulnerable residents. Through a partnership approach, the residents were supported to record their concerns, and temporary CCTV cameras were installed to deter crime.  

In South Cambridgeshire, local problem-solving groups bring together the council, police, housing, and other services to tackle anti-social behaviour head-on. By working together, they can take firm action where needed and offer support to stop issues from continuing. In one of many cases resolved during the past year, a resident’s concerns about ongoing behaviour in their community were addressed through a joined-up approach. By sharing information and agreeing a clear plan, partners were able to deal with the problem, support those involved, and put a longer-term housing solution in place – providing peace of mind for the wider community. 

As part of wider community safety, in his work to improve road safety, and as Chair of the Vision Zero Board – a multi-agency partnership bringing together key road safety leaders from across the county – the Commissioner launched a Road Safety Fund worth £20k to support statutory organisations within the Vision Zero Partnership to address local road safety priorities. He also continues to invest in prevention and enforcement initiatives including funding the Casualty Reduction Officer (CRO) and Community Speed Watch Coordinator posts within the force on top of dedicated vehicles for the Special Constabulary to support road safety campaigns.  

Activities undertaken by the CRO this year include leading and supporting drink driving and motorcycle/moped safety campaigns, holding 14 Older Driver Workshops attended by 175 participants, sharing road safety messaging in schools and hosting free bike maintenance and security marking events. 

There are now 110 active Speed Watch schemes in operation across the county with 47 new volunteers recruited, bringing the total to 1,000 volunteers.  

For more details about your local Community Safety Partnership, visit the following websites: 

Cambridge - Cambridge Community Safety Partnership: Working together to keep Cambridge safe - Cambridge City Council 

East Cambs - Community Safety Partnership (CSP) | East Cambridgeshire District Council 

Fenland - Community Safety Partnership (CSP) - Fenland District Council 

Huntingdonshire - Community Safety Partnership - Huntingdonshire.gov.uk 

Peterborough - About the Safer Peterborough Partnership | Peterborough City Council 

South Cambs - Community Safety Partnership