Month of action tackling top anti-social behaviour issues across Northamptonshire

With tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police, the Force is spending September focussing on the top issues across the county, including work to seize and destroy vehicles being ridden or driven dangerously and illegally.

As part of the Force’s approach to resolving ASB and improving quality of life, eight hotspot areas have been identified across the county’s eight policing sectors, using reports from the public from the last six months to identify the main issues and where they are happening.

Tackling vehicle nuisance is also be a key aim as reports show this is a concern county-wide, with a dedicated email address set up for people to send information on problem situations direct to their local policing teams.

Chief Inspector Pete Basham, who is leading the month of action, said: “ASB takes many forms, but key to it all is the affect it has on people’s quality of life. This is why Northamptonshire Police has made tackling ASB a matter of priory for 2021/22 and why we’re launching our month of action to tackle the issues causing the most distress to individuals and harm to communities across Northamptonshire.”

The launch of Operation Judgement to tackle vehicle nuisance will centre on the anti-social and dangerous use of motorbikes, cars and e-scooters, with people encouraged to email information to opjudgement@northants.pnn.police.uk, as well as continuing to report incidents by calling 101 or, in an emergency, 999.

Ch Insp Basham said: “We’ve set up Operation Judgement to make it crystal clear that Northamptonshire Police understands the concerns people have about vehicle nuisance, and we will be doing all we can to prevent those who choose to ride or drive in this way from causing harm to their communities.

“The dedicated email address won’t replace our usual crime reporting systems, but feedback from communities suggests there’s significant under-reporting of this ASB type, in particular motorcycle nuisance, so we want to provide as many ways as possible for people to tell us what they know so we can act.

“As with all forms of ASB, it’s not right that the actions of a few affect the many, so we’ll be using a range of powers to tackle this, from outreach and education right up to the seizure and destruction of motorbikes and other vehicles that are being used illegally.”

During the month, the Force is increasing patrols within hotspot areas and undertaking days of action with partners including West and North Northamptonshire councils.

Enhanced support for repeat victims of ASB is already being provided by Northamptonshire Police, to make sure those most affected have the right help from the right agencies at the right time, to make a real difference and improve their lives.

Those identified as being responsible for ASB issues are also being supported and challenged to make better decisions and prevent them from causing problems for others, including the increased use of both civil and criminal powers.

Ch Insp Basham added: “Northamptonshire Police takes ASB very seriously but in order to effectively tackle issues, we need residents to report them to us.

“Even if an issue is not a police matter, we can help you by providing advice and guidance on who to report it to, for example reporting noise nuisance to your local council.

“During our month of action and beyond, please help us to help you by reporting all ASB to us – if we don’t know it’s happening, we can’t help, but if you report to us, we can take action against those responsible and provide you with support. Don’t suffer alone, we are here to help you.

Report non-emergency ASB by calling us on 101 or go online at https://www.northants.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour/

In an emergency, where a crime is taking place or life or personal safety is at risk, always call 999.

Find more advice about what to expect when reporting ASB here. https://www.northants.police.uk/news/northants/news/news/2021/july-21/helping-you-to-report-anti-social-behaviour/

Key ASB issues identified from public reports made across Northamptonshire’s policing sectors

• Daventry – youth and general neighbourhood-related nuisance, Abbey South ward
• South Northamptonshire – youth and vehicle-related ASB, Grange Park
• Northampton Central – neighbourhood-related nuisance, aggressive begging and youth-related ASB, Castle ward
• Northampton Suburban – vehicle-related ASB, Sixfields
• Wellingborough – youth-related ASB, Swanspool
• East Northants – youth-related ASB, Rushden’s Hayden ward
• Kettering – youth-related ASB and rowdy behaviour, William Knibb ward
• Corby – youth-related ASB and off-road motorcycle nuisance, Kingswood

 Katy Islip

Senior Communications Officer

Message Sent By  Dave Stimpson
(Police, Coordinator, Northampton)