It’s the UK’s first ASB awareness week and this is how we’re keeping residents safe
Published: Thursday, 21 July, 2022
Stroud District Council has joined a national campaign that is bringing together people and organisations from across the country to take a stand against anti-social behaviour and make communities safer.
Running from July 19 to 25, ASB Awareness Week – Making Communities Safer aims to encourage communities to take a stand against ASB and highlight the options available to those facing it.
The council’s focus is on:
- Prevention – keeping residents safe by working together with partner agencies..
- Promotion - of the Stroud Community Safety Partnership.
- Positive - information sharing to prevent and resolve ASB.
Organised by community safety specialists Resolve, ASB Awareness Week is being backed by the Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Local Government Association (LGA), National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC).
“Community resilience and wellbeing is one of our top three priorities in The Council Plan – our vision for the district to 2026,” said Housing Committee Chair Matte Ross.
“Our officers have been focussing on working with and supporting vulnerable tenants, as some are amongst the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Planned activity includes:
- Wednesday, July 20 – door knocking in Mathews Way, Paganhill in response to recent ASB, and clearance at Woodview Road, Cam as the result of an injunction.
- Thursday, July 21 – Meeting with PCSO Nicola Wood and tenants at Nouncell’s Cross to discuss CCTV project.
- Friday, July 22 – leaflet drop at Midland Road, Stroud during childrens’ holiday activities in response to recent ASB and a hate crime incident.
- Monday, July 24 – door knocking in Park Estate, Stonehouse in response to a high level of ASB.
- Tuesday, July 25 – litter picking in Chapel Street, Stroud
SDC Housing Manager Michelle Elliott explained: “We are achieving this by working with Inspired Services to develop easy read acceptable behaviour agreements and support documents which have been drawn up by a focus group of vulnerable residents and the outcome has been that several high level ASB cases have been successfully resolved at the lowest level possible.”
An Anti-Social Behaviour leaflet will be developed with Inspired Services, to help residents to understand what they can expect from Stroud District Council when tackling ASB in their community.
A new anti-social behaviour noise app, designed for residents has been a huge success and already has streamlined evidence resulting in a noise abatement notice being served by Environmental Health in the shortest time possible.
Throughout the pandemic the council has strengthened partnership working with the police with the recruitment of an anti-social behaviour & enforcement officer, and continue to work closely with social services and mental health teams.
Rebecca Bryant OBE, chief executive of Resolve, said: “We need to change the way we think about ASB. It is not low-level crime. It devastates the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.
“As the nation begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic and our society and economy celebrates the start of return to normal life, it is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs nationally and locally so that people feel safe in their homes and communities.
“We are delighted to have Stroud District Council involved in this hugely important and successful campaign.
“It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community.”
For more information visit www.resolveuk.org.uk