National funding to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence welcomed by PCC

PCC Philip Wilkinson has welcomed the announcement of an extra £1m to be spent on tackling violence and disorder targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour in Wiltshire, as part of a national initiative led by the Home Office. 

Each police force across England and Wales will receive at least £1m from central government to help drive down crime and boost public confidence in targeted areas where there is high prevalence of violence, anti-social behaviour, and illegal public drug consumption, which not only makes communities feel less safe but can fuel drug related violence. 

Tackling anti-social behaviour and violent crime alongside partners in Wiltshire and Swindon is high on the PCC’s agenda, with work to utilise the range of powers available to address anti-social behaviour, and better coordinate the multi-agency response to violent crime in our communities, through the Community Safety Partnerships in Swindon and Wiltshire. 

Mr Wilkinson said: “After actively lobbying the government for fairer funding, I welcome this announcement from the Home Office. This hotspot funding will make a positive difference in those areas most susceptible to antisocial behaviour and our communities will be safer as a result.  

“Tackling crimes that matter most to local communities is a clear priority in my Police and Crime Plan and I want our residents to feel safer, in addition to being safe.  

“While the overall trend for anti-social behaviour is heading down, I recognise there remains more to do, to meet the challenges our local communities have with violence and disorder head-on, and I will continue to focus on this issue as residents have told me how important it is to them.” 

So far, the national approach has already been piloted in 10 areas, with over 80,000 hours of patrols in the six months since it launched. This has led to nearly 600 arrests, close to 1,500 stop and searches and around 700 uses of anti-social behaviour powers such as community protection notices and public protection orders.   

T/ACC Phil Staynings, Head of Local Policing and the Neighbourhood Harm Reduction Unit said: “We welcome the recent Home Office announcement of further funding to help address issues of anti-social behaviour and related criminality. 

“Such issues have been recognised as a key priority for the force by our Chief Constable Catherine Roper in her drive to ensure safer public spaces and tackle violent crime in the communities we serve.  

“We are determined to robustly address criminality on our streets and this funding will provide further valuable support to allow us to tackle these issues.” 

Published Thursday 15 February 2024