A pledge has been signed by Gloucestershire leaders, promising that anti-social behaviour will be taken seriously, made easier to report and tackled in partnership – with victims no longer being passed ‘from pillar to post’ when it comes to ASB.
The Anti-social behaviour pledge has been developed by Safer Gloucestershire, a County-wide community safety partnership, led by Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Nick Evans.
Representatives from organisations including local councils, Gloucestershire Health & Care Foundation Trust, Bromford Housing, Young Gloucestershire and Green Square Accord, all signed the pledge at Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Waterwells Headquarters, promising their commitment to its values.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR PLEDGE
As signatories of the Safer Gloucestershire Anti-social behaviour pledge, we recognise a broad definition of anti-social behaviour which can affect the people of Gloucestershire in many different and sometimes profound ways.
We will continue to work together to understand the impact of anti-social behaviour in the county and tackle issues as a priority when they arise, with a focus on early intervention and prevention. People in Gloucestershire have the right to feel safe, whether they live, work in, or are visiting the county, and victims will always be provided with appropriate support.
We will make it easier to report anti-social behaviour, ensuring the process is clear and accessible to all. Where victims feel they have not received appropriate support, we will promote the use of Community Triggers to offer collaborative multi-agency solutions.
Working in partnership, we will share information to maximise the impact we can have within communities, ensuring victims are at the heart of all we do.
The pledge has been launched during Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness week, which runs until Friday 22 July 2022, highlighting the lasting effect that anti-social behaviour can have on victims.
Speaking of the multi-agency commitment, Nick Evans Chair of Safer Gloucestershire said: “The aim is simple: to stop residents of our county from being passed from pillar to post when they have a problem with anti-social behaviour.
“It is a signal to our residents that we as organisations, and as a County, want to nip ASB in the bud, tackle it early and improve the quality of life for our residents.
“I want this pledge to act like a no-wrong door policy, putting the victim first and looking not just at what can my agency do to help this resident find a solution, but who can I speak to at other agencies to help them too.”
The signing comes a day after the Home Office Strategic Board developed a set of principles which seek to describe a “consistent approach to understanding and addressing anti-social behaviour in local communities.” Full details available here.
