Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner has welcomed today’s announcement that Cleveland will benefit from the Government’s new antisocial behaviour plan.
The Government has picked the area to be a ‘hotspot trailblazer.’ Selection is part of a joint action plan to reduce levels of ASB in communities.
Funds will be allocated to the PCC to invest in increased hotspot patrols. In addition, funding will implement an ‘immediate justice’ scheme – one of the select few local areas selected to do so.
Through immediate justice, offenders will be expected to start community repair work – such as picking up litter or washing emergency service vehicles – within 48 hours of receiving an order.
Additional high-visibility patrols in ASB hotspots aim to drive down offending behaviour and identify regular offenders.
Between January 2022 and December 2022, Cleveland Police dealt with 17,029 anti-social behaviour incidents.
This is a 26.5% decrease from the previous 12 months – and an almost 50% reduction from the same period in 2020.
Neighbourhood crime has increased by 16.4% in the 12 months to December 2022.
Community Spaces
PCC Steve Turner said: “Everyone should have the right to enjoy community spaces without the fear of encountering antisocial behaviour, littering and vandalism.
“Sadly, from my conversations with residents, businesses and community groups across Cleveland, we know that this can be their distressing, daily reality – and they’ve had enough.
“Through this increased investment, we will be able to invest in high-impact, visible measures. They will act as a deterrent and demonstrate clear consequences for offenders.
“These projects will enhance youth outreach and sport diversionary projects we already have in place. They will give young people alternatives to causing trouble in their communities.
“These projects have given us real success in significantly reducing levels of ASB in Cleveland. This additional investment will help us to build on this success.”
In September 2022, Steve launched new app – COPA – to give local people another option to raise community issues and concerns with police and other local services. Over 4,000 people have downloaded the app since its launch.
Steve is also the APCC joint lead for Local Policing and contributed to the development of the Government’s ASB Action Plan at a national level.