Nottinghamshire Police target antisocial behaviour and criminal damage after feedback from community

The two crimes categories were made neighbourhood priorities for the first quarter of 2020 in Nottingham North following feedback from residents to the beat team and a survey run by the Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership.

Neighbourhood Inspector Christine Busuttil said: “We’re committed to listening to what’s important to the community, and I’m really pleased with the extra work we’ve been able to do around anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.

“It’s great to see that residents feel confident to come forward and tell us when there are issues.”

The neighbourhood team – which covers Bulwell, Bestwood and Sherwood – worked with behavioural specialists in schools to identify and discourage young people from engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Educational sessions were also used to explain to children what criminal damage is – and why it is a problem.

Additional CCTV cameras were installed in Rufford Walk and near to the Blenheim Industrial Estate, both in Bulwell, in partnership with Nottingham City Council, to further reduce instances of anti-social behaviour.

This saw the issues in Rufford Walk, which centred around verbal abuse directed at shopkeepers in the area, stop altogether.

Incidents of anti-social behaviour involving motorbikes at Blenheim Industrial Estate were also greatly reduced.

The team’s work on tackling anti-social behaviour and criminal damage follows the launch of Nottinghamshire Police’s ‘What matters?’ survey, which is encouraging communities across the county to have their say on what police in their area should be focusing their efforts on addressing.

The online survey takes a few minutes to complete and the results are combined with crime and incident data to influence the priorities of neighbourhood policing teams and partner organisations. Once agreed, each area’s priorities are published on the Nottinghamshire Police website alongside monthly progress updates.

To complete the survey, go to nottinghamshire.police.uk/whatmatters.