Week of action on ASB gets underway across Merseyside
17.07.22 - Merseyside
Merseyside Police and the Police Commissioner will be highlighting the day to day work with local communities and partners across this week to highlight the support available to people experiencing anti-social behaviour and the work taking place across Merseyside to prevent and tackle it.
Following a successful first year, 18-24 July has been nationally identified as a week to shine a spotlight on anti-social behaviour and to encourage communities to take a stand against ASB and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it.
During the week, Merseyside Police, the Police Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, and partners including the Local Authorities, Merseyside Fire and Rescue and local housing providers will be building on the work they carry out on a daily basis in our communities to address the issues that matter to residents across our region.
From high visibility patrols which provide reassurance and a visible deterrent, partner walkarounds and ensuring offenders are identified and brought to justice.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Anti-social behaviour can have a hugely damaging effect for victims, particularly those who are repeatedly and persistently targeted.
“Tackling and preventing ASB is one of my priorities, so I welcome all the fantastic multi-agency initiatives planned by Merseyside Police, Knowsley Council and all our partners during ASB Awareness Week and beyond.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live. I hope this week will highlight some of the great work which is going on across the region day in day out to improve the safety of our neighbourhoods, helping people to feel safer and happier in their communities.”
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.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community and our activities this week, alongside our partners, will highlight some of the work that we undertake on a daily basis to support our communities and tackle ASB.
Find out more about what's happening in your area
Knowsley
- High visibility patrols in parks and gardens
- Open land searches and quad deployment
- Walkabout with partner agencies
- Clean up following reports of graffiti
- Loopline patrols and engagement
- Pop up surgery
- Support Open Day at a new youth centre opening in Prescot
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, added: “Tackling anti-social behaviour remains a priority for the Council and its partners. The Council has recently invested £1m to help to combat this issue and effectively target the impact anti-social behaviour has on our communities.
"Throughout the week, we will be highlighting the actions we are taking, engaging with residents, providing reassurance that their issues are being addressed as well as encouraging them to share information with us. With partners and communities working together, we can create safer communities.”
Liverpool
In Liverpool, the week-long initiative will target the following areas:
- Picton – Smithdown Road streets (Monday)
- Belle Vale – Naylorsfield area (Tuesday)
- Garston - Window Lane and Harbour Drive area (Wednesday)
- Anfield - Oakfield Road Area (Thursday)
- Yew Tree - Colwell Road and Gainsford Road area (Friday)
- City centre
Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Abdul Qadir, said: “Anti-social behaviour is not low-level crime – it can devastate the lives of victims and communities.
“Along with our partners, we are fully committed to ensuring individuals feel safe in their communities and neighbourhoods.
“This awareness week is an opportunity for us to highlight some of the issues residents have experienced and the partnership work which is taking place every single day to combat it.
“It is all part of our commitment to driving up standards in our neighbourhoods, making them clean, green and safe.”
Sefton
- High visibility patrols in parks, gardens and beaches
- Walkabout with partner agencies
- Supporting Park Night events with Active Sefton
- Clean up and leaflet drop on ASB
- High visibility patrols in the night time economy
- Deployment of the mobile police station
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.”
St Helens
- High visibility patrols in parks and gardens
- Walkabout with partner agencies, including Merseyside Fire and Rescue, St Helens Council Safer Communities Team
- Clean up and leaflet drop on off-road bikes
- High visibility patrols in ASB hotspots
- Deployment of the mobile police station
Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities, said: "Particularly during the warmer months, antisocial behaviour can cause fear and intimidation in our streets and cherished parks; spaces where friends and families should be able to enjoy the weather in safety and comfort.
"Officers in our outreach and CCTV teams work year-round to combat ASB and to engage with residents, together with partners, but we look forward to such weeks of action to highlight this work and to tackle the prevailing community safety issues in our neighbourhoods."
Wirral
- Open land searches
- High visibility patrols in ASB hotspots
- Walkabout with partner agencies
- HYPE activities in Birkenhead Park
- Birkenhead Park Fun Day
- Clean up and leaflet drop on ASB
- Deployment of the mobile police station
- Partnership day of action
Cllr Helen Cameron, Chair of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee, said: “While overall crime has reduced since 2020, crimes such as anti-social behaviour have seen increases in some areas.
“The Council continues to work closely with Police, Housing Associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs and during ASB week we will run Operation Staysafe. This multi-agency operation will target people involved in risk-taking behaviour, as well as conducting several local Action Days across Wirral, in response to reports of ASB.
“We know how much anti-social behaviour can negatively impact residents’ lives and the cumulative effect of multiple incidents can be debilitating. This week provides further opportunities to encourage more people to report ASB, whilst raising awareness of the Community Trigger to resolve ongoing situations.
“Tackling ASB remains a key priority of Wirral’s Community Safety Strategy, with plans to not only prevent crimes and use appropriate enforcement but to also work to understand root causes within our communities.”