Anti-social behaviour (ASB) awareness week

Officers across Gwent are hosting a series of events this week to raise awareness of anti-social behaviour and its impact on communities, talk to residents about how the force tackles specific issues and speak to attendees about any concerns they may have.

Organised by Resolve, Anti-social behaviour (ASB) awareness week promises to be an action-packed week that sees forces across the country join their partners in highlighting the impact of anti-social behaviour and the importance of engaging with the wider public about the vital role they play in tackling ASB. 

Throughout the week (18 – 24 July), officers across Gwent are hosting a range of initiatives with partners that support children and young people to highlight the impact ASB has on people in Gwent.  

During the events, officers will speak to residents and visitors about ASB’s different forms, its impact on our neighbourhoods and how to recognise it and report it appropriately – and the problem-oriented policing plans Gwent Police has in place to address specific problems raised by residents in this year’s Your Voice survey. 

Some of the events include ASB awareness workshops with Positive Futures, bike marking sessions, a sport event with the force’s NXT GEN team, an ASB and arson reduction surgery and community litter picks to demonstrate the harmful effect littering and fly-tipping has on our communities.  

Chief Inspector Amanda Thomas said:  

“Everyone has a right to feel safe, which is why tackling ASB is a priority for us here at Gwent Police. Any behaviour that intimidates residents or puts them and visitors at risk is completely unacceptable and won’t be tolerated.  

“Week in, week out, we work with partners in local authorities and emergency services to put measures in place to highlight those responsible for causing disorder, but also prevent it from happening in the first place. 

“Community engagement and our work with schools and young people is key to this. Just last week, for example, we visited a school in Hengoed who’ve been working with our NXT GEN team on an innovative community safety project. The use of Minecraft: Education Edition to build a digital community that mirrors their own encourages them to think about community safety, and how they play a big part in contributing to safe, healthy spaces, but also gives us the chance to deliver key crime prevention messages as well. 

“Through the summer break, we’d urge parents to continue to talk to their children about the messages we’ve been delivering this ASB awareness week, so that our communities continue to play their part in addressing and reporting behaviour that negatively impacts the quality of life for our residents. 

“If you have any concerns about ASB in your area, please call 101 or go along to one of our events or regular police surgeries – where you can meet your local officers and speak about what we’re doing to address the issues affecting our communities.” 

*For more on the events neighbourhood policing teams across Gwent will be hosting this week, follow them on Twitter: 

@GPCaerphilly @GPNewport @GPBlaenauGwent @GPMonmouthshire @GPTorfaen