News Article

Police use different methods to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Anti-social Behaviour, often referred to as ASB, takes many forms, all of which cause harassment, alarm or distress to people and which can also be associated with criminal causes such as drug dealing.

Devon & Cornwall Police and partners use a range of solutions to resolve ASB issues, not all of which involve criminal proceedings, examples of which from the last few months are shown in posts on the Force’s Facebook and Instagram accounts this week.

For instance, police worked with local housing providers to apply Closure Orders to break the cycle of relentless ASB associated with drug activity associated with residential properties in Devonport, Bude, Liskeard and Wadebridge. A similar order was used to end disruption and violence associated with a bar in Camborne.

In Okehampton and Tavistock, police have applied Public Space Protection Orders which allow the police and authorised officers to disperse individuals who are causing a nuisance or disorder, and the power to remove alcohol from people who are drinking on the streets before a situation escalates.

Okehampton Police worked with the local community to raise funds to rejuvenate a local skatepark, encouraging people of all ages to use the park in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour. It was a prime example of local police pulling many different elements together, including Proceeds Of Crime Act funding provided by Devon & Cornwall Police and receiving help from, amongst other groups, Men In Sheds!

Police in Cornwall delivered important sessions on ASB to over 500 primary school students across 20 schools in Helston including those in rural areas as part of their approach to encourage young people to make safe decisions.

Devon & Cornwall Police takes a collaborative approach to reduce the corrosive effect of ASB on communities.

Superintendent Emma Butler-Jones, Force Lead for Neighbourhood Policing and ASB, said: “Because reports of ASB go not just to the police but also to local authorities, housing associations and other organisations, a joined-up response is vital.”

“Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams are the key to delivering our response. We use the Hotspot Policing model which gathers intelligence and allows us to target our resources where they can have the maximum effect. Alongside beat patrols, supported by dedicated Neighbourhood Support teams, this helps us maintain a visible presence in the community and address the underlying causes of crime, such as social disorder and public nuisances, and prevent future incidents.”

ASB also happens in many different locations and situations. On Dartmoor, officers worked with Dartmoor Rangers in response to public concerns about anti-social behaviour impacting the moor, including littering, fly-tipping, livestock worrying, irresponsible use of disposable barbecues and open fires and speeding.

Superintendent Butler-Jones concluded: “We encourage the public to have the confidence to report incidents to us. If the police are not the agency that deals with a particular issue, we can advise who best to contact. Every report that we receive is important as it could help us to disrupt criminal activity or inform the deployment of our resources through Hotspot Policing to improve the quality of life for residents. Thanks to the reports we receive, and through collaboration and targeted policing, we are committed to keeping our communities safe.”

Hotspot policing is designed to tackle ASB and serious violence with targeted police and street marshal patrols in areas with the highest levels of crime. It has delivered more than 26,000 hours of additional foot patrols in towns and cities across Devon and Cornwall since May 2024. The project was made possible through £1 million of Home Office funding secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Home Office has recently granted another £1 million to carry on the project this year.

You can find out more about ASB and how to report it on the Devon & Cornwall Police website: dc.police.uk/ASB

May