Extra £1 million to tackle anti-social behaviour

Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer has welcomed the news that an extra £1 million will be coming to Cheshire for projects to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the county.

The money was secured by the Commissioner from the fifth round of the government’s Safer Streets Fund, following a county-wide survey where residents were asked about the impact of ASB in their community and how it could be dealt with more effectively.

Some of the funding will support more CCTV cameras in key hotpots in Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Warrington, to deter would-be perpetrators and enable better evidence gathering. In response to concerns about anti-social riding of e-bikes and e-scooters, Ellesmere Port will also benefit from new drones which will enable the police to safely follow and record perpetrators.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer said:

“This additional funding to tackle ASB is welcome, and I am really pleased to be able to work with the Constabulary and other organisations in Cheshire to make our communities even safer.

“The feedback to my survey was extremely valuable in informing my bid to the Safer Streets Fund. Preventing and tackling ASB is a clear priority for residents and that’s why it’s in my Police and Crime Plan. Every penny of this extra £1 million will be put to good use to prevent and tackle ASB and support victims.”

The funding will also support enhanced services for repeat victims of ASB and behaviour change programmes for offenders. The charity Remedi will work directly with victims on a support plan and use Restorative Justice – where victims have a chance to explain the impact of the offence directly to the perpetrator – to improve their confidence in the Criminal Justice System.

Remedi will also facilitate a Restorative Action Project for young offenders, to change their attitudes and prevent reoffending. Local Authority youth workers will also receive more support to engage with young people and prevent them from becoming involved in ASB.

John Dwyer added:

“ASB might often be referred to as ‘low level’ but incidents can build up and have a detrimental effect, so it’s right that some of this funding is used to help victims to rebuild their lives.

“When it comes to perpetrators and potential offenders, it’s vital to intervene early to stop young people becoming involved in more serious crime. By working to change their ways now, we make our communities even safer in future.”

Pictured - Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer.