Success of partnership approach to tackling ASB

CARMARTHENSHIRE’S Community Safety Partnership’s collaborative approach to tackling anti-social behaviour is showing results.

The number of ASB interventions – including warning letters, consideration of voluntary Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) and the signing of ABCs – during the year was 616. This is an increase of 12 per cent on 2011/12.

Community Safety Manager Kate Thomas said: “There does not seem to be any pattern giving a reason for the increase, but we have, in partnership with the police and other partner agencies, tried to increase levels of awareness of the process of tackling ASB and have encouraged the reporting of ASB. There are also more Police Community Support Officers in place this year which is likely to have impacted as more officers are now referring in to the council for warning letters to be sent.”

The success of the staged approach continues to be demonstrated. Of the 616 letters and ABCs issued, 540 were first stage warning letters which resulted in no further reports of anti-social behaviour, giving an 87.6 per cent success rate in the use of these letters. In addition, both of the ABCs issued during the year were successful with no breaches of the conditions contained within them.

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon said: “Anti-social behaviour has no place in our local communities. I applaud the partnership’s work on the issue and urge the public to report any concerns they have to a PCSO.”