Cheshire Constabulary takes part in first Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week

Officers across Cheshire Constabulary took part in a series of activities to mark the first ever Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week.

From 19 July to 25 July, the week organised by community safety specialists Resolve, saw each Local Policing Unit (LPU) take part in a series of activities to take a stand against ASB.

The week of action saw officers work together with local partners to tackle ASB and help make communities safer.

Patrols across all areas were stepped up, resident surveys conducted and officers worked to educate young people on ASB by visiting schools and hosting engagement events such as football tournaments.

Here’s a snapshot of the activity across each LPU:

• In Chester, three warrants were carried out at addresses with a quantity of drugs seized from two of the properties. Information had been received by the local community in order for the LPU’s Beat Team to carry out the raids.
• In Ellesmere Port, a closure order was granted at a property on Sutton Way which had caused misery to the local community.
• In Widnes, a total of three knife sweeps were conducted and although no knives were recovered, there was positive engagement with partnership agencies.
• In Runcorn, a number of patrols targeting off-road bikes took place along with Knife Saver training in conjunction with the NHS.
• In Northwich, Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer attended the Winsford Youth and Community Forum to discuss a Community Action funding bid to enhance initiatives for young people in Winsford to divert them from crime and ASB.
• In Macclesfield, two off-road bikes were seized following reports from local residents.
• In Crewe, officers distributed purse bells in the town centre while conducting home visits with partner housing agencies.
• In Warrington, officers conducted licencing checks at convenience stores while also holding bike marking events across the town.

Chief Inspector Gary Smith, the Constabulary’s lead for Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, said: “This week has been a huge success and I am grateful to all of our local policing units who have worked tirelessly to crackdown on ASB.

“It has also been important to educate our communities on what is ASB and reaching out to those who may be victim of this crime and signposting where they can get the best possible support.

“ASB can include things such as graffiti, littering and off-road motorcycles within the community and this activity creates an environment where more serious crime can take place.

“This type of behaviour might not seem serious to some people, but it can cause misery to local neighbourhoods and I hope this week has shown if we all work together we can have a positive impact and drive down the levels of ASB.

“I would like to continue to urge anyone who feels that they are or have been a victim of ASB to get in touch with Cheshire Constabulary by calling 101 or reporting it via:

https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour/”

Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer said: “Anti-social behaviour can be a blight on our communities, and I commend the work done by the Constabulary, not just during the awareness week, but in general to combat the issues.

“ASB can have a detrimental impact on those it affects, and it was beneficial for me to see first-hand how our communities were fighting back and providing diversionary activities for young people to channel their energies into, and deter them away from behaving in an anti-social way.

“Cheshire Constabulary will continue to tackle ASB hotspots in the county, but they can only do this with our local communities contacting them and telling them where the issues are.”

Pictured - Northwich LPU officers with PCC John Dwyer meeting with Winsford Youth and Commuity Forum.