Anti-social behaviour hotspots targeted

30 April 2007 10:19

North Norfolk towns branded anti-social behaviour hotspots are due to be targeted by a new scheme designed to combat such activities.

Multi agency action nights aim to tackle and prevent low level anti social behaviour in market towns.

And after the second of its kind took place in Stalham at the weekend the idea has been heralded as a success.

Police officers, PCSOs, workers from the Matthew Project, environmental health officers and any other organisations interested all meet up and patrol the designated town in small groups.

Gemma-Ann Buck, community support co-ordinator, said: “It's not about going out there and making arrests.

“It's about talking to the young people and making them aware of the effect they have on the wider community.

“Often they don't realise the impact of their actions.

“It also gives all the different agencies chance to work together which means things can happen faster.

“We notice things that need doing and can turn to the person next to us and get it sorted almost immediately.

“Or it gives members of the community a chance to approach us and tell us what they're concerned about.”

During the operation on Friday night cars were monitored for noise pollution and speeding, pubs checked for under-age drinkers, and the streets patrolled for littering, criminal damage and rowdy behaviour.

But now it has been a victim of its own success with police and councillors clamouring for them to take place in their town.

Miss Buck said: “These nights are really effective.

“A lot of people are asking us to hold them in their area.

“We will now be rolling them out across the eastern region.

“Next time though hopefully we'll be using new equipment to test whether smoking has occurred in a pub after the ban comes in.”

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