Boots on the ground in Burton in ?1m bid to stamp out yobs

Uniformed police patrols are set to be boosted in Burton^[1] to help tackle antisocial behaviour after Staffordshire was chosen to pilot a new government scheme. Staffordshire Police is one of eight forces in the country trialling "enhanced patrol" of antisocial behaviour hotspots, starting this week.

The area's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams revealed the plans at the start of a national Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week. The force is being given £2m government funding over two years towards the pilot, which will initially focus on Burton's Stretton, Eton Park, Horninglow and Shobnall areas, as well as Stafford and Newcastle town centres, Hanley and Etruria and Fenton West and Mount Pleasant.

He said: "Our focus initially is visible patrolling by police and PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) over the next few months. And we are going to show how we might work with local councils, to have enforcement officers or wardens to support police.

"We have got £1m (this year) and if it goes well, next year we will be funded to do the same. Government is looking to measure perception of residents and we will be reporting back on the number of hours and visibility of uniformed presence."

Speaking at a Police, Fire and Crime Panel meeting on Monday (July 3), Mr Adams told Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent councillors: "Antisocial behaviour continues to reduce across Staffordshire but we're not letting up- antisocial behaviour in public places is an issue for residents and businesses. In the last year we have secured a pilot of £1m for more antisocial behaviour uniformed patrolling which will launch and start this week.

"This week is Antisocial Behaviour Week and there are a number of ways we are going forward, not just as an office or police service, but with our community safety partners: councils, probation and housing associations. I continue to fund the Community Safety Partnerships with core finance, but also to provide ASB grant money and money for a Community Change Fund.

"This is where residents and community groups wish to tackle an issue in their area and we will support them to do that. Its a three-year commitment which allows for better long-term commissioning of local services, also certainty and the potential to join up with neighbours in commissioning activities, particularly around positive behaviours for young people."

ASB Awareness Week aims to highlight action residents can take if they are experiencing the issue - and this year there is a focus on ASB Case Reviews. Previously known as a Community Trigger, an ASB Case Review allows victims to request action if they have reported at least three separate but related incidents to police, a council or housing provider within the last six months but the antisocial behaviour is still going on.

Mr Adams said: "The ASB Case Review process can be invaluable in giving victims of persistent ASB a voice, and the new approach taken across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will bring a consistent approach to how such cases are managed. Police, councils, housing associations and others all work together to tackle ASB through Community Safety Partnerships and I’ve committed funding to strengthen these, as where problems are repeated, people can feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods."

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References

1. ^{^} Burton (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Suspect who grabbed woman as she walked on Burton bridge fled on bike (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
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