Tackling anti-social behaviour

Creating a better environment

Surrey Heath's parks and open spaces are there to be enjoyed. Unfortunately, the anti-social behaviour of some (of all ages) can spoil things for others and residents. Where this is the case, the police (and police community support officers) have powers to disperse groups of two or more people in designated areas. It also allows the police to return a young person home if they are under 16 and unsupervised in a public place after 9pm. This is called a Section 30 dispersal order, as it comes under Section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

Section 30 orders are not intended to be used in isolation but form part of an integrated response to tackle crime and disorder in local areas and are designed to prevent residents from feeling threatened by groups of people hanging around public spaces. It also protects children from the risks of being unaccompanied on the streets at night.

What is anti-social behaviour?

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) covers a whole complex of selfish and unacceptable activity that can blight the quality of community life. Examples include: nuisance neighbours, rowdy and nuisance behaviour, yobbish behaviour and intimidating groups taking over public spaces, vandalism, graffiti and fly-tipping, speeding, people dealing and buying drugs on the street, begging and anti-social drinking.

ASB doesn't just make life unpleasant. It holds back the regeneration of disadvantaged areas and creates an environment where more serious crime can take hold. On any measure of polling or survey, anti-social behaviour matters - it has a negative effect on far too many people's quality of life. The Safer Surrey Heath Partnership is committed to tackling this problem.

What are we doing about it?

One of the key ways in which the Partnership addresses the problems arising from ASB is through the workings of its Community Incident Action Group (CIAG) and Joint Action Group (JAG). These multi-agency groups are made up of representatives from all six partners, and voluntary and community organisations, who meet once a month to report incidents of ASB, whether isolated or ongoing, and work through solutions.

What can the community do?

It is important that residents and businesses work with local agencies to report crime and ASB to help bring offenders to justice. It has never been easier to report ASB in Surrey Heath. Residents can report ASB online 24/7 via Surrey Heath Borough Council's Report It Online Opens in a new window facility. Alternatively call the council contact centre on 01276 707100 or fax 01276 707365.

View the link below for more information about what the Home Office is doing to curb ASB in our communities:

• Home Office strategy on anti-social behaviour Opens in a new window