The Home Office Anti Social Behaviour Unit is announcing 50 new Anti Social Behaviour Action Areas. One is Southampton.
It marks the first anniversary of the Home Office’s TOGETHER campaign. Southampton’s City Patrol Service, among other initiatives, was the first to be police accredited in the country and the city has seen Crime Reduction and Environment Weeks (CREWs).
What they say
Cabinet Member for Communities and Regeneration, Councillor Liz Mizon, says: "This is a vote of confidence in the good work we have already been doing. Southampton’s status as a TOGETHER Action Area really matters – it is a statement that as a Local Authority, we are prepared to be part of something big, that we are on the side of the law-abiding majority, that we will tackle, not tolerate, anti-social behaviour. Above all, it will give us the opportunity to send out clear messages that we are committed to action; raise awareness of the powers that have been used to tackle anti social behaviour over the past year and communicate that we are committed to continually tackling this area in the future; show what is possible when communities and authorities work effectively together; demonstrate that anti-social behaviour is being taken seriously, that there is a dedicated team tackling it and communicate that the city is committed to working with the public on this!"
Jane Mielniczek, Southampton City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Manager, says: "We have been selected as a Together Action Zone Area by the government to help tackle anti-social behaviour in the city. For some time now we’ve been making good progress in tackling the kind of behaviour from a minority of people that has made life so grim for others. Now we’re officially an Anti-social behaviour Action Area, with their backing, our community can expect to see us step up another gear."
Chief Insp Beau Fisk, who leads the strategy to combat anti social behaviour for Southampton Police, says: "For some members of our communities anti social behaviour is like a plague. It affects them in their daily lives and thus requires all of us to engage with the community to vigorously tackle the scourge of anti social behaviour which is so pervasive in some of our communities. Southampton police with our council colleagues are determined to build on the structures that we have in positively addressing these problems and offering respite to those in need and actively using all of our combined powers and effort to tackle those bent on disrupting community harmony. Together is the way forward."
For further information contact the Anti Social Behaviour Team on 023 8083 3988 or call TOGETHER on 0870 220 2000 for advice on tackling anti-social behaviour:
