Summertime anti-social behaviour 'abnormally high'

The rate of anti-social behaviour has been consistently above the national average

Anti-social behaviour in Northamptonshire peaked with what police described as an "abnormally high" number of incidents in the summer, it has emerged.

Offending increased year-on-year, with 17% more incidents in 2025 so far, compared with 2024 - and a high of 1,582 reports in June.

The joint police, fire and crime panel for North and West Northamptonshire councils heard anti-social behaviour had been consistently above the national average and that of similar police forces.

"We've experienced some really extreme behaviours and that's why neighbourhood policing is a really top priority for the chief constable and me," said Northamptonshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) Danielle Stone.

"We need to do an awful lot more than that, we need to really understand what's going on with this kind of lawlessness."

Corby residents do not report incidents because "the police and council do not do anything", a deputy council leader claimed

In the 12 months up to June 2023, 11,477 incidents were reported, rising to 12,153 the following year, and then 14,252 in the year up to June 2025 - an increase of more than 24% over two years.

North Northamptonshire Council's deputy leader, Eddie McDonald, described the issue as a "blight on many people's lives", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"Some of it can be very serious with huge implications on people's lives," said the Reform UK councillor.

"The feedback that comes back from the residents in Corby is that they don't report it because the police and the council don't do anything, or that's their perception."

Reform-led North Northamptonshire recently set out a new policy to tackle offending through early and preventative action.

Both unitary councils have put in place specific public space protection orders (PSPOs), so officers can respond to anti-social behaviour in identified hotspots.

Ms Stone said that anti-social behaviour had to be addressed by a number of organisations, not just policing.

Intensive supervision courts, being piloted in other areas to address the root causes of offending behaviour and reduce reoffending, were being looked at by her team, she said.

She wanted to see better outreach work for drug and alcohol addiction, as well as stopping the number of exclusions in schools and providing safe spaces for young people, she added.