Havant Borough Council’s Leader and the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) met this week with traders and shoppers as part of their renewed aim to combat crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) in the borough.
Councillor Phil Munday and PCC Donna Jones went on patrol with the council’s new ASB Officer, Alison Jones, and were joined by Havant and East Hampshire District’s new area commander, Chief Inspector Alex Charge.
Whilst the ASB Officer is employed by the council, the post is funded by the PCC and Home Office GRIP fund.
During the patrol, Cllr Munday and the PCC spoke with businesses and residents to hear about their experiences and concerns around crime - particularly shoplifting, and ASB – and found out more about the role of the ASB Officer.
As well as patrolling ASB hotspots and providing visible reassurance and contact to businesses and residents, the ASB Officer works closely with Havant’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams to share intelligence and provide early intervention and a joined-up approach to tackling crime and ASB.
Cllr Munday said: “We are grateful to the PCC for funding this post and for coming here to meet with us and talk about how we can carry on working together to make our communities safer.
“The role of the ASB Officer is crucial to not only help reduce the levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in our borough, but also to provide a visible and responsive service to the community so people can quickly and easily raise concerns with us.
“Alison has already made a positive difference, carrying out more than 150 patrols in ASB hotspot areas, building strong links with our local police and partners and supporting residents and businesses.
“I’m looking forward to us working increasingly closely with the PCC and Chief Inspector Charge and his team to carry on tackling, and hopefully reducing, crime and ASB in our communities.”
Police recorded 5,726 occurrences of antisocial behaviour in Havant District between August and November this year while Alison has been in post, compared to 6,109 occurrences for the same period last year – a drop of 6.3%.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, said: “Addressing antisocial behaviour and shoplifting are top priorities in my new Police and Crime Plan. It’s fantastic to see the positive impact that Alison Jones has already made in Havant. The new ASB Officer role ensures communities have a dedicated resource focused on tackling these issues head-on and providing much-needed support to residents and businesses. This work must continue to drive down the crime that matters most to people.
“Partnership working between the council, the police, and my office is vital for making Havant safer. As Commissioner, I’m committed to continuing to invest in initiatives to help build safer, stronger communities.”
For more information about the ASB Officer’s role, please see the press releases below:
Havant Borough Council appoints new ASB officer | Havant Borough Council