Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week

Efforts to stamp out nuisance and abusive behaviour in Kent continued during a national week of awareness.

Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week ran from Monday 18 November until Sunday 24 November 2024 and was an opportunity for officers to provide advice and support within their local communities about what to do if you find yourself a victim.

They also raised awareness of issues to help people understand what constitutes antisocial behaviour, how to report it and where to go for additional support.

As well as attending community events including visiting schools and colleges, officers carried out enforcement work.

Closure orders were granted on properties in Ramsgate and Northfleet linked to crime and antisocial behaviour, bringing the total authorised this year to five.

Dispersal orders were authorised for areas in Medway and Sittingbourne during the week following several reports of antisocial behaviour including shoplifting and nuisance youths. These orders give officers the power to move people on from an area if they have been causing antisocial behaviour. A total of 144 have been authorised so far this year.

A Community Protection Notice can be given to a person to stop them behaving in an antisocial manner. During the week, four were handed out to people, including to a man from Faversham who was seen to be causing a public nuisance by his persistent begging and a man who was causing a disturbance at a store in Birchington.

Officers also targeted those riding or driving vehicles in an antisocial way including in Medway where they used powers to stop those riding e-scooters and vehicles. A total of 27 section 59 orders were added to the 331 already issued this year, which gives officers the power to seize the vehicle if it is seen driving in an antisocial manner again.

So far this year, 34 Criminal Behaviour Orders have been issued to people who persistently cause antisocial behaviour. The order is granted by the courts to someone who has previously been convicted of an offence such as shoplifting but continues to carry out their crimes. Earlier this month a man from Tunbridge Wells was jailed for 12 weeks after ignoring a CBO given to him, prohibiting him from entering a shopping centre in the town.

Superintendent Pete Steenhuis said: ‘Antisocial behaviour is committed by a very small minority of people, but it can have a wide-reaching impact on a community. ‘Abusive and nuisance behaviour has a significant impact on an affected person’s quality of life and is not something that should be tolerated. ‘Each day our officers work hard to achieve good results for the communities they serve, and they will always pursue the most robust and proportionate options available to them. ‘Our neighbourhood policing model means we have extra police officers on the streets of Kent which will ensure our officers and PCSOs are used in the most operationally effective and efficient way to serve the public – keeping people safe and targeting those who pose the greatest risk to our communities. ‘Anyone affected by antisocial behaviour is encouraged to contact us so we can take action.’

Further advice can be found here.