Anti Social Behaviour
We all need to live together. Young people need things to do. The Police do not want to "criminalise" our youth. The vast majority of our young people are a credit to themselves and their families. All that being said, there are some bottom lines, in particular young people need to know that large groups, on the street, causing criminal damage, drinking in public, using abusive language will not be tolerated. Behaviour of this nature causes fear to people and damages their quality of life. Young people may not realise the impact of such behaviour. Noise that sounds ok while out in the street can reverberate inside houses either side, damage to cars can cause seconds to cause, but cost hundreds of pounds to fix. More than the financial cost, the sense of frustration, fear and upset this causes to residents really damages communities.
Not only does Anti Social Behaviour cause harm to communities, it put those who cause it at risk. Young people causing a disturbance today will be seeking employment in the future, even minor convictions acquired now can affect all kinds of opportunities in the future.
Police can and do make a difference to ASB and to the peace that communities deserve. However the difference our response teams make is, predominantly, short term. We do our best long term work when we are in tight partnerships with other agencies and local communities. This is the basis of our Neighbourhood Policing Approach. Parents and families have a vital role. Young people are our future, in the end almost all grow away from disorder, but some damage themselves and their potential along the way.
We are committed to bringing down crime and the fear of crime. Anti Social Behaviour causes a real fear of crime and must be dealt with.
