ASB Awareness Week: Making Communities Safer

Merseyside Police will be working with local communities and partners across next week to highlight the support available to people experiencing anti-social behaviour and the work taking place in Sefton to prevent and tackle it.

The 19-25 July has been nationally identified as a week to shine a spotlight on anti-social behaviour to help make communities safer.

During the week, in Sefton, Merseyside Police and partners including One Vision Housing will be building on the work they carry out on a daily basis in our communities to address the issues that matter to Sefton residents. From school visits, open land searches and leaflet drops to quad bike patrols and high visibility presence in hot spot areas they will engage with communities across the borough.

Chief Superintendent for Local Policing, Zoe Thornton said, “Anti-social behaviour is a priority for Merseyside Police and this awareness week offers an opportunity to highlight the issues of ASB and the impact it can have on the local communities.

People deserve to feel safe where they live and our activities this week will highlight some of the work that we undertake on a daily basis to support our communities and tackle ASB.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: “Anti-social behaviour can have a hugely damaging effect for victims who are repeatedly and persistently targeted. It causes fear, stress, anxiety, depression and leaves people too scared to leave their front door and even afraid while they are inside their own home.

“That’s why tackling and preventing ASB is one of my priorities. I welcome the launch of the UK’s first official ASB Awareness Week and all the fantastic multi-agency initiatives planned by Merseyside Police and our partners over the next week and beyond.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live.  I hope this event will help to bring communities together to take a stand against ASB and highlight the help and support which is available to anyone affected by it.”

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “In Sefton we continue to do all we can alongside our partners in the police, to curb any and all instances of anti-social behaviour (ASB).

“We hope that the community join us in supporting Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness week and this is an opportune moment for us all to remind ourselves of what we can do to help keep our fantastic borough safe and free from this kind of harm and upset.

“We have a committed and hard working ASB team who regularly team up with partners in housing and uniformed services to support victims, as well as proactively reducing the amount of ASB we see in our communities.

“The Sefton Safer Communities Partnership funds, via its Crime Reduction Grant, many activities throughout the year that offer diversionary activities to help reduce Anti-Social behaviour.”

Activity taking place throughout the week includes:

• Sefton’s Local Policing team will continue the work they do on a daily basis to deploy patrols to ASB hotspot areas
• Quad bikes will patrol areas where police receive reports of those riding scrambler bikes illegally
• Sefton schools officers will deliver talks to pupils about the impact and consequences of anti-social behaviour in local communities
• A joint operation around persistent ASB with One Vision Housing to address concerns from their residents
• Social media Q&A for residents in Seaforth, Crosby, Waterloo, Blundellsands, Bootle and Litherland

ASB Awareness Week is organised by community safety specialists Resolve, ASB Awareness Week is being backed by the Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Local Government Association (LGA), National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC).

Rebecca Bryant OBE, Chief Executive of Resolve, said: “As the nation begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic and our society and economy celebrates the start of return to normal life, it is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs nationally and locally so that people feel safe in their homes and communities.

“We are delighted Sefton is involved in this hugely important and successful campaign. It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community.”

To find out what is happening each day follow Merseyside Police’s social media accounts for regular updates.

For more information visit www.resolveuk.org.uk/asbawarenessweek

REPORT IT

If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour or are a victim of a crime you are encouraged to report this to Merseyside Police @MerPolCC or online here.

You can also report anonymously to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111