With the onset of hot summer evenings, which can be a 'hot spot' for anti-social behaviour, organisations in Suffolk are working together to try and combat problems in the community.
Warmer weather and lighter nights can bring noise nuisance from outdoor parties and car stereos, rowdy behaviour in public places, and groups of young people hanging around. All these are things that worry people and which can lead to concerns about safety.
The county's seven district and borough councils are working in partnership with Suffolk County Council, police, health and education partners, plus voluntary and community groups to reduce crime and disorder and promote positive behaviour.
Anti-social behaviour co-ordinators across Suffolk are working at a local level with families and individuals, who may have caused anti-social behaviour, and organising diversionary and preventative activities, particularly for young people.
Some of the wide range of community projects to combat anti-social behaviour and challenge perceptions of the problems include:
- A fourth drop-in centre opening in Ipswich to provide diversionary activities and support for young people aged 8 to 13 - this time on the Triangle housing estate in the Chantry area of the town
- Pupils at Kirkley Middle School in Lowestoft improving respect and self esteem in the school community by learning circus skills and putting on a show for the public
- Students at Deben High School, Felixstowe helping to make a DVD that will be used in schools and youth groups to challenge perceptions of anti-social behaviour
- Providing holiday activities for young people living in Glemsford, near Sudbury to reduce anti-social behaviour
- A Community Crew of young people helping to transform wasteland on the Priors housing estate, Bury St Edmunds into a garden for residents.
Councillor Joanna Spicer, Suffolk County Council's portfolio holder for Public Protection, said: "We know that people want to live and work in communities where they are safe, and feel they are safe. That's why it's important to work together with communities to tackle things like anti-social behaviour, which can cause anxiety for people.
"Along with the new Safer Neighbourhood Teams that have been introduced
across Suffolk, projects like these can really help to transform an area. We are always looking for new ways to work in partnership to make sure that Suffolk remains a safe county, and one where people have a good quality of life."
Reducing the number of people who perceive anti-social behaviour as a problem is one of the demanding government targets set for local councils.
Recent surveys of people in Suffolk show they think anti-social behaviour is becoming less of a problem than it was. The latest British Crime Survey statistics show a drop in public perception of anti-social behaviour from 11% to 9%.
In addition, figures from the recently published Local Government User Satisfaction Survey also show that the percentage of people who see anti-social behaviour as a problem went down markedly in all seven districts and boroughs of the county between 2003 and 2006.
Overall, people's perception of high level anti-social behaviours has dropped by more than half to 17% in Babergh, 21% in Forest Heath, 21% in Ipswich, 8% in Mid Suffolk, 16% in St Edmundsbury, 9% in Suffolk Coastal, and 22% in Waveney.
Cllr Spicer added: "Reducing perceptions of anti-social behaviour is a very tough target to achieve, especially as we want more people to tell us where there are crimes and anti-social behaviour across the county so that we can help to combat them.
"Although these surveys show a drop in the numbers of people who think there's a problem, we still have more to do to reduce anti-social behaviour in our communities. We will keep working through our partnerships with the district and borough councils, police, health, and voluntary and community groups to make sure this trend continues."
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