Neighbourhood policing in action during ASB Awareness Week

Last week, during Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week, I spent time with officers on the Barton Hill Neighbourhood Policing Team and saw the impact of their work in action. I accompanied the team as they implemented a closure order for Danube Mini Market on Two Mile Hill Road, St George (Bristol).

The store had been caught trading alcohol suspected to be stolen from other retailers, and large amounts of counterfeit tobacco and cigarette stock had also been seized. The criminality and associated ASB prevented other businesses from being able to operate effectively and caused significant problems in the local area.

I saw first-hand the positive reception the closure order received – with other local business owners thanking and even hugging officers at the scene. It’s a reminder of how important strong partnership working and neighbourhood policing is, and the positive impact it can have when done right.

This is one of the reasons why strengthening neighbourhood policing is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and why I continue to advocate for visible policing. Neighbourhood Policing Teams are ideally positioned to work with partners, engage with communities, and adopt a problem-solving approach to reduce crime and ASB.

This was the third closure order secured across the force area that week using ASB legislation, an example of innovative use of police powers and the force’s new five-year ASB plan in action.

ASB leads have been appointed in all forces across England and Wales to support the development of these action plans, as part of the government’s neighbourhood guarantee – which I work closely with Avon and Somerset Police to implement locally.

My Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Kevin Slocombe also attended Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce last week, to hear directly from local businesses about the impact of ASB in Bridgwater town centre and to discuss practical steps to improve reporting, information sharing and joint problem-solving.

The work is ongoing, and there is more to be done to address the pervasive issues caused by ASB in our communities. But I will continue to bring partners together to facilitate meaningful work, advocate for visible community policing, fund services that support victims, and push for change and resource where it’s needed.

If you have been affected by ASB, you can contact the Avon and Somerset Victim Support (ASVS) partnership – a service which I fund that provides free and confidential support to anyone affected by crime or ASB across the region.

I also encourage those affected to report incidents of ASB to Avon and Somerset Police, or anonymously through Crimestoppers.