Council and partners support Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week

Cheshire West and Chester Council and its partners have joined a national campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and keep people in the borough safe.

Running from 18 to 22 July, ASB Awareness Week 2022 aims to encourage communities to take a stand against ASB and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it.

Organised by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, the week features a series of events  across the UK involving councils, police forces, housing associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs.

This week will see a number of events across the borough involving the Council, Cheshire Police, Cheshire Fire and Rescue, Youth Service, and Weaver Vale Housing Trust.  This includes events for young people in Northwich, Winsford and Ellesmere Port involving an inflatable football pitch, increased patrols focusing on the ASB in designated areas and joint partnership displays at an event at the Groves in Chester on Thursday and Friday between 9.30am and 4pm.

Recent YouGov research commissioned by Resolve found that more than half of people (56%) believe that ‘more needs to be done’ to tackle ASB in their community. However, after they witnessed or experienced ASB, a similar proportion of the public (57%) said that they did not report it to anyone.

The Council and its partners are urging members of the public not to suffer in silence if they experience ASB. Incidents can be reported to the anti-social behaviour team at the local Council, or to the Police if people feel that they are at immediate risk or in danger. To report a crime or ASB that needs an immediate response and is something that is happening at the time you are calling, you should contact Cheshire Police on 101 (Cheshire Police’s non-emergency number). In emergencies only, dial 999.

Councillor Robert Cernik, Cabinet Member for Children and families and member of the Community Safety Partnership said: “We need to change the way we think about ASB. It is not low-level crime. It can have a significant impact on the life of victims and on communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community.”

Chief Inspector Michael Ankers of Chester Local Policing Unit: “Our officers will be getting involved in activities across Chester, the city and surrounding villages with lots going on. From educating the younger generation to supporting the local community in a battle against anti-social behaviour. There will be a bigger police presence in anti-social behaviour hotspots around Chester, to prevent and to take action against it.

Rebecca Bryant OBE, Chief Executive of Resolve added: “It is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs so that people everywhere feel safe in their homes and communities.

“We are delighted Cheshire West and Chester Council and its partners are supporting this hugely important campaign. It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.”

For more information about ASB Awareness Week – visit:

www.resolveuk.org.uk/asbawarenessweek

• About the survey
  All survey figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2006 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1st – 4^th April 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
   
• About ASB Awareness Week 2022
  ASB Awareness Week will runs between 18 - 22 July 2022

  The week of action will bring together people and organisations from across the country to take a stand and work together to make communities safer.

  Organised by Resolve, ASB Awareness Week is being backed by the Home Office, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Local Government Association, National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council.
   

• About Resolve
  Resolve is a centre of excellence solely focused upon community safety and anti-social behaviour (ASB). We strongly advocate that community safety issues and ASB can be tackled effectively, and everyone has a right to feel safe. ASB should be treated as a priority, it is not low level and is a precursor to serious crime.

It is our mission to professionalise the sector by helping organisations to effectively deal with community safety and ASB issues through training, support, guidance and sharing best practice.

Tackling ASB and community safety is core business for all of our members, including social housing providers who collectively manage more than 3 million homes throughout the UK. Other members include Local Authorities, who make up 25% of our membership, housing law solicitors, mediation services and the Police.

For more information visit:

www.resolveuk.org.uk