Nuisance behaviour 'still a challenge' in town

The Dukeries Leisure Centre, in New Ollerton, was recently vandalised

Police say nuisance behaviour is still proving a major challenge in part of Nottinghamshire despite a drop in the number of reports of anti-social behaviour.

New figures showed there were 992 reports in Newark in the year to July - an 18% drop from 1,204 in the 12 months before that.

However July saw a number of major incidents in the district, including businesses being attacked and a leisure centre being vandalised.

Nottinghamshire Police said tackling anti-social behaviour remained a top priority.

Paul Taylor, Newark and Sherwood District's portfolio holder for community relations and public protection, said a lot of work was being done to deal with the issue.

He told the BBC: "About a year ago we had a major problem in the town centre with anti-social behaviour (ASB).

"We had a serious problem. We’ve been addressing ASB in the town centre extensively and that’s why we’ve seen such a significant improvement."

Nuisance behaviour summits

In 2023, the council was granted injunctions against three boys who had been "causing a lot of issues", banning them from Newark town centre, Mr Taylor said.

"We showed them how serious were are," he said.

Mr Taylor added that the problems which extended beyond the town centre and into other parts of the district too, had prompted the creation of a "multi-agency partnership", which involved summits held with the public and other authorities, such as the police.

While he said the district had a "particular problem", he said recent figures showed Newark and Sherwood had recorded the biggest reduction in ASB reports in the county.

Newark's Cherry Holt play area was targeted by vandals in October 2023

Insp Charlotte Ellam, district commander for Newark and Sherwood, said as part of efforts to deal with anti-social behaviour, CCTV cameras had been replaced, neighbourhood officers had provided a visible presence in the community and the council's community protection officers had regularly joined neighbourhood officers on their patrols.

She said: "Having listened to the views of the community, we know how much of a negative impact this offending can have on people’s lives, which is why it has remained a priority area for us for so long.

"Despite this, as expected we did see a spike in July, with reports going up by 13% compared to June, which illustrates for us the challenge that we continue to face around ASB."

Among the incidents reported in July were a number of town centre businesses being attacked and the Dukeries Leisure Centre in New Ollerton being badly vandalised - for which three children were arrested and remain on police bail.

'Pleasing to see'

Nottinghamshire Police said there had been 877 reports of anti-social behaviour in the Newark and Sherwood district between April and July this year - a 12% drop on the same period in 2023.

Officers said the Newark team had seen a rise in reports in the Yorke Drive area in recent weeks, and in response targeted patrols have been stepped up.

Insp Ellam said: "We’re committed as a policing team to cracking down on ASB in all its forms, whether that be abuse shouted in the street, vandalism, or people acting in an aggressive manner.

"While it is pleasing to see that levels of ASB have steadily been going down, we know this can quite easily change, so will continue to look for any new ways we can tackle this type of offending."