Proposed details of how £1 million of funding to tackle violence and disorder in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour across Warwickshire have been revealed by Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe.
The Home Office funding will see additional uniformed patrols taking place at 18 ‘hotspot’ locations across the county, covering each district and borough. The aim is to deter crime and anti-social behaviour from taking place, while also boosting public confidence and reducing the fear of crime.
Areas targeted will include town centre locations in Atherstone, Nuneaton, Rugby, Stratford, Bedworth and Leamington Spa. As well as foot patrols by Warwickshire Police officers and PCSOs, hotspots in Leamington Spa will be supported by Warwick District Council’s Town Wardens.
The hot spot patrol model has already been piloted in 10 areas of the country, resulting in 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.
The hot spot patrols will be supported by educational resources and digital activities via social media and local community messaging to raise awareness of anti-social behaviour and serious violence in the hot spot locations and drive behavioural change to prevent crime taking place.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said:
“I know that communities across the county are concerned about the impact of anti-social behaviour, and associated violence and disorder, so this additional government funding is extremely good news. Anti-social behaviour is not low-level crime and it needs a strong police and partner response to tackle it.
“These additional high-visibility uniformed foot patrols will be extremely welcomed by residents, and results from pilots elsewhere in England and Wales show that they are effective at reducing crime and deterring anti-social behaviour. I hope we will see similar results here in Warwickshire to help underline the message that anti-social behaviour and violent disorder will not be tolerated.”
The proposals have now been submitted to the Home Office for final approval, with hotspot patrols set to begin in April, continuing for 12 months.
