Campaign sees better behaviour in town, police say

A campaign has seen a drop in anti-social behaviour, Surrey Police say

More police officers and better visibility led to less weekend anti-social behaviour in Guildford, Surrey Police says.

An 18-month campaign to tackle nuisance behaviour saw violent crime and offences linked to youth-related crime drop by 75% in the town in that time, the force said.

The campaign, backed by a £273,000 Home Office grant, included TV adverts during Six Nations rugby matches and work with fast food outlets and shops.

Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said she was "very proud" of the campaign's impact while Guildford borough commander Inspector Blaine Rafferty said it was "important that we communicate the level of acceptable behaviour that is expected".

A spokesperson for Surrey Police said the scheme, part of the Home Office's Safer Streets initiative, involved targeting crime hotspots in Guildford with an increased police presence on weekends.

Dispersal orders in the town centre also allowed the force to arrest people who were repeatedly causing trouble within a 48 hour period.

PCC Townsend said that, while funding for the scheme had not continued into the new financial year which began in April, Surrey Police officers would continue to be present in the town at weekends.

Inspector Rafferty added: "Tackling issues like ASB and retail crime remain ongoing priorities for us, and having officers patrolling the streets means we're here and ready to address any issues as they arise.

"I'm delighted that our partnership work has made an impact in helping to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all, and the Home Office funding has been vital in allowing us to make improvements."