In our area, reported antisocial behaviour is down by 7.8 per cent in the last 12 months, writes Inspector Dave Browning.
This figure includes drunk and rowdy behaviour. Our partnership works hard to predict where problems are likely to happen and to put things in place to nip them in the bud to keep the area peaceful for local people and tourists.
The Safer/Cleaner/Greener meeting I mentioned above also considers what to do when people call us more than once. Recently, using that process we saw an emerging issue in Todmorden. Sergeant Michael Bowden headed a partnership team that has gripped the problem firmly. His team has worked with licensees to ensure that opportunities to take drugs in licensed premises are reduced, CCTV coverage is improved and there are increased visible patrols at relevant times. Neighbourhood wardens made regular visits to ‘hotspots’ and moved people on who were likely to cause a problem. As a result the numbers of repeat calls has decreased, noise nuisance has decreased and arrests for drunk and rowdy behaviour have become less necessary.
So what?
You’re entitled to feel safe, whether you’re at work, at home or out and about enjoying our lovely area. When drunk and rowdy behaviour disturbs that feeling, it is easy for people to feel less confident about going out, or isolated in their own neighbourhood. None of us want that to happen.
Now what?
We’re still in one of the safest places in the county, but I’m neither complacent nor naïve. This is an area of police business that will crop up from time to time. When it does, we’ll be looking out for early warning signs and dealing with them quickly. My team and our partners in the council and elsewhere are determined to boost levels of confidence that local people have in the service that we provide.
l Next month I’ll be looking at how we seek people’s views and how people from different backgrounds live harmoniously together in our area. In the meantime why not take a look at the Upper Valley NPT Facebook site and you can see some of the work we’re doing that is making a difference in this area.