Ashfield Council to host anti-social behaviour awareness roadshows

During the week, officers from Ashfield Council’s community safety, housing, and environmental health teams, alongside Nottinghamshire Police will be hosting drop-in sessions across Ashfield.

Residents will be able to seek advice about any anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood issues they may be experiencing.

Sessions are on:

• Monday, July 3, 11am-2pm – Portland Square, Sutton;
• Tuesday, July 4, 11am-2pm – High Street, Hucknall;
• Thursday, July 6, 11am-2pm – Kirkby Plaza;
• Friday, July 7, 11am-2pm – Selston Country Park.

During 2022/23, the council’s community safety team has issued 532 community protection warnings, 73 public space protection order breaches and 56 tenancy warnings, completed 201 safeguarding referrals, issued 60 fixed penalty notices, undertaken seven closure orders with police and taken nine cases to court resulting in convictions.

Coun Helen-Ann Smith, council executive member for community safety and crime reduction, said: “We are proud to support anti-social behaviour awareness week, a national initiative running from July 3-7. Anti-social behaviour and these sessions will give us valuable insight into the problems residents are facing.

“It’s important residents feel they can talk to the teams and their concerns will be listened to, and acted upon. I want to reassure residents the council will take all concerns seriously, so please come and talk to us.”

Antonio Taylor, council community safety manager, said: “Ashfield is seeing major economic growth and investment and we want to see the District continue to remain an attractive, welcoming place for all our residents and visitors, which is why we are committed to engaging with our communities with matters that are important to them.”

Every weekend, police community support officers are working across the district in partnership with council community support officers. Together they patrol known hotspots, work to resolve community disputes and react to reported issues such as underage drinking and noise complaints.

Insp Jon Hewitt, Nottinghamshire Police’s Ashfield district commander, said: “The idea of these patrols is to provide a visible presence in community, with the same pairings building stronger, more trusting relationships with residents in the areas they serve.

“The meet-and-greet sessions we are holding this week are an extension to that ethos and I encourage anyone who is able to come and talk to us.

“We are well aware of the impact anti-social behaviour can have on residents’ lives and I want people to know that these issues also matter to us.

“Neighbourhood policing is not all about chasing criminals and locking people up – it’s also about addressing all the other issues that negatively impact people’s lives.

“So, while many incidents of anti-social behaviour may not amount to a criminal offence and won’t lead to prosecutions, we still want to hear about them and will do what we can to address them.”

“We urge you to contact us if you wish to report anti-social behaviour by contacting 999 in an emergency or crime in progress or 101 in a non-emergency situation.’’