A Sussex example of the wider poliec family in action.
Shopkeepers and Police Community Support Officers are working together to curb nuisance behaviour at East Preston’s Station Parade.
Since November police have received more than 20 complaints. Shoppers have felt intimidated by large groups of youths cycling and congregating on the pavements. Traders have complained of verbal abuse, shouting, swearing and spitting. Cars have been damaged and litter strewn around.
Toby Florescu, PCSO for East Preston, is now leading a Safer Communities initiative designed to combat anti-social behaviour in the area. The local youth club, parish council and school are supporting him.
Toby says: "My colleagues and I are regularly patrolling the area on bikes and foot. Our aim is to engage with young people and the community to reduce tensions. In cases where we find the behaviour of individuals is unacceptable we are able to inform parents and take children home."
The Safer Communities project, set up by Arun Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, is responsible for coordinating information on anti-social individuals acrosss the district.
Police will be using powers under the Police Reform Act to confiscate vehicles if they are used in a manner likely to cause distress. A number of motorcycles have already been seized in the Bognor area.
Littlehampton neighbourhood policing team Inspector Mark Hammond said: "Parents need to play a part in this joined-up approach. Key to this is the importance of parents assuming responsibility for their children, knowing where they are in the evenings and ensuring that they are not causing a nuisance. I would like to stress that it is only a small, unrepresentative minority of individuals who are causing problems. We will deal with these people so that the rest of the community can enjoy their surroundings unhindered.”
Roger Elkins, chair of Arun CDRP, said: "Engaging with local young people is very important, particularly in areas where persistent and unacceptable nuisance behaviour is occurring, which has been the case recently in this area of East Preston. Young people don’t always realise the impact their behaviour has on others."
