Police to continue tackling anti-social behaviour and street-level crime across Newark as a priority, in response to community feedback

Whether vandalism, street drinking, or anti-social behaviour, the concerns of the community are on neighbourhood police officers’ radars.

Anti-social behaviour and street-level crime in Newark has been named as a policing priority for the September to December period, by Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood.

It continues the work of the neighbourhood team to tackle the issue in the previous quarter, which saw a heightened police presence in Newark town centre and Hawtonville as part of the Hot Spot Patrol Fund and the Safer Towns for Summer initiative.

Results have been seen, with a 14% reduction in anti-social behaviour compared to last year — but in response to community feedback that the issue continues to be felt across the town, the priority has been kept on and its reach widened.

Inspector Ellam said: “Last quarter our focus on the town centre was largely based on specific incidents on anti-social behaviour in the area, which were causing people to perhaps not feel comfortable coming into town, but community feedback is that those concerns are not only confined to the town centre.”

Priorities are chosen both based on crime data, police intelligence, and the public’s own self-identified concerns — which are collected via the Notts Alerts ‘What Matters’ survey.

The Notts Alerts system is an opportunity for residents to tell police in their area what issues they are experiencing in their community, to help drive action on them, as well as receiving relevant updates. You can sign up to Notts Alerts at: www.nottsalerts.co.uk.

Anti-social behaviour is also combined with street-level crime as a priority, as the Inspector explained there is overlap between the two.

“Things like nuisance vehicles, drug taking, kids causing damage,” she added.

“Anti-social behaviour and street-level crime is one banner which encompasses a variety of concerns.”

While the Safer Towns for Summer funding has now ended, the Home Office Hot Spot Patrol Fund will continue to bolster visible patrols in the town centre and Hawtonville over the coming months.

Neighbourhood officers will also continue joint patrols with Newark and Sherwood District Council’s community protection officers, and the use of public space protection orders to tackle behaviour such as street drinking and remove offenders from the affected locations.

There will be additional action around Halloween and Bonfire Night, which can traditionally attract anti-social behaviour.

The team’s dedicated anti-social behaviour car will be deployed, and ahead of the nights officers will engage with shops to educate and assist regarding the sale of items which may typically be used by young people to cause trouble over this period.

Similarly, in Hawtonville, where shops have been known to suffer from anti-social behaviour incidents, an active problem solving strategy is underway.

A recent success from the area which has helped drive down incidents — the supply of body worn cameras to shop staff — is also due to be promoted within the force as an example of ‘best practice’.

Inspector Ellam added: “We’re also trying to implement beat surgeries across all the wards of the town, so the public can come along and chat with officers and share any concerns they may have.”