The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex has announced an additional £1.6 million in funding for 2024 to combat anti-social behaviour in 15 targeted hotspot areas across the county.
Building on the success of last year’s £1.1 million investment in 13 hotspots under Operation Dial, this new funding aims to further reduce anti-social behaviour in Essex. The previous operation saw a 13% reduction in reported incidents, gaining national recognition when highlighted by the Government.
Targeted Intervention to Combat ASB
The new funding secured by the PFCC will support:
- High-visibility police patrols
- Community safety patrols
- Youth outreach work
- Crime intervention projects
These efforts will focus on 15 identified hotspots across Essex, including areas in Colchester, Southend, Basildon, Chelmsford, Brentwood, Epping Forest, Harlow, Tendring, Thurrock, Castle Point, and Braintree. The selection of these locations is based on data from public reports to Essex Police and feedback from local residents and Community Safety Partnerships.
Commitment to Reducing Crime
Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said:
“I’m very pleased to announce £1.6m is now available for a second year of targeted anti-social behaviour intervention. Our model uses data to identify areas of high anti-social behaviour and then target those areas with funding support and resources in the form of patrols and community intervention. This targeted-action model works; it’s an investment in offering reassurance and building confidence in local communities as well as providing more opportunities to identify and pursue those responsible for crime and anti-social behaviour.”
He emphasized the importance of community reporting:
“This is why we always urge people to report crime when we are on our many public engagements across the county. We use your reports to identify areas in need of extra resources and then we target those areas. We can’t identify those areas or target resources without your reports.”
Ongoing Efforts from Essex Police
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for anti-social behaviour, commented:
“We’ve been successful in driving down anti-social behaviour across Essex. That said, there is more to do, so the investment and focus on ASB will continue. ASB has more than halved in five years and is down in every district in the county in the past 12 months. This shows our approach is getting results and making a real difference to people’s lives. ASB is not ‘low-level’; it damages communities. It’s unacceptable that anyone should feel intimidated or harassed in their own home or local area.”
Significant Reductions Across the County
In the past year, reports of ASB incidents have decreased in all districts of Essex. The latest figures show a 8.7% drop in reported incidents to the end of August 2024 (1,420 fewer offences), a 65.6% reduction since 2019, and a 70.1% decrease since 2016.
- 19.1% reduction in Uttlesford
- 13.9% reduction in Southend
- 13.5% reduction in Tendring
- 11.2% reduction in Basildon
- 8.8% reduction in Chelmsford
- 7.9% reduction in Harlow
Over the past two years, anti-social behaviour is down by 38% in Colchester and 32% in Thurrock.