Police to step up action on anti-social behaviour

Operation Confidence, which gets under way on 19 October, is a concerted effort to address crime and disorder, and highlight what Thames Valley Police, its partners and local residents are doing to make communities safer.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Rowell, who is leading the operation, said: "Anti-social behaviour is a priority in the majority of neighbourhoods in the Thames Valley, and it is something we take very seriously.

"We have succeeded in reducing anti-social behaviour in many neighbourhoods through a combination of increased police patrols and community engagement. But it remains a problem in too many places, and too many people's lives are blighted by the inconsiderate, selfish or threatening actions of others.

"With this campaign, we want to increase awareness among local residents of what we are doing to deal with anti-social behaviour, and encourage them to take an active part in tackling it.

"We cannot tackle anti-social behaviour if we don't know about it, so it's vital that local people engage with us and report incidents when they happen. One of the most effective ways of reducing crime and disorder is for police, councils and communities to work together.

"We want people to have the confidence to get involved and make their communities safer."

The launch of the two month campaign coincides with Alcohol Awareness Week, which runs from 19 - 23 October and incorporates Halloween, Bonfire Night and Not in my Neighbourhood Week (2 -6 November), when police councils and other agencies will inform local people about the activities they are engaged in to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Each local policing area is running its own operations to target issues such as drunken disorderly behaviour, violence, criminal damage and other crimes that impact on the quality of life of people in the Thames Valley. They will focus on reducing ASB, protecting and supporting victims, and where necessary, bringing offenders to justice. The operations are planned to target the issues that matter most within each neighbourhood.

Anti-social behaviour is any persistent activity that causes alarm, harassment or distress. It can include excessive noise, drunken loutish behaviour, or vandalism. During Operation Confidence, activities will include:

Test purchasing and proxy sales operations in off licences and nightclubs
Targeted patrols in conjunction with local authority anti-social behaviour teams
Test purchasing of fireworks, knives and other bladed weapons with partners from Trading Standards
Halloween and fireworks safety visits to schools
Street briefings of neighbourhood patrols in community centres and parks
Producing laminate cards of prominent ASB offenders to make them easier for officers to identify
Distributing no Trick or Treat posters by neighbourhood teams
Action against mini-motos
Latest figures from the British Crime Survey show there has been a fall in people's perception of anti-social behaviour over the last six years.

However, ACC Rowell said: "Our ability to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour is a significant factor in how confident our communities are in the service we provide, it is vital that we get this right."

He has set reducing ASB as a force priority between October 19 and December 19, 2009.

As well as encouraging children to be aware of the consequences of their actions, Thames Valley Police is also asking adults to understand the needs of children and allow them to play safely in their local neighbourhood.

The operation is also an opportunity to highlight the fact that is a misconception that only young people get involved in anti-social behaviour, most ASBOs are served on adults.

If anti-social behaviour is affecting your quality of life, or making you fear for your safety or the safety of others contact your local police station, call Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505 or the anti-social behaviour co-ordinator at your local council.

The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, has promised extra help for victims of ASB, a crackdown on those that breach Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and new minimum service standards that people should expect from their local police, councils and social landlords to deal with intimidation. Out of 85 areas across the country, Slough and Reading have been identified as places where more than 25 per cent of the public feel ASB is a big problem. They are being offered Home Office support to help address this.