A housing estate plagued by anti-social behaviour and congregating gangs of youths has had normality restored once more - thanks to a targeted partnership project.
Mayflower Way, a small estate in the north of Sudbury, was not known for criminal damage offences with only one report in 2006 and one in 2007. Anti-social behaviour instances in the area were also minimal.
But during early to mid 2008, anti-social behaviour and youth-associated criminal damage increased. A primary school in the area suffered 11 crimes of damage, arson and burglary in just four months. Police officers were called to the area 71 times in three months and there were daily calls reporting anti-social behaviour.
Now – because of a project that has seen Babergh District Council, the council’s Be Active project, Suffolk Police and the Sudbury and Great Cornard Safer Neighbourhood Team, among others, all working together to combat these problems – Mayflower Way is back to normal again.
Sally Watson, Babergh’s Anti-Social Behaviour Network Officer, said: “Literally overnight this area became a real problem.
“Large groups of young people, aged between 11 and 17 years old, started gathering after school up until the early hours of the morning causing a nuisance to those in Mayflower Way and surrounding roads.
“At one point I was getting calls daily from residents terrified or fed up with the behaviour, which included setting bins alight, graffiti, damage to cars and property, as well as verbal abuse and intimidation.”
A multi-agency partnership approach was implemented which saw the deployment of a mobile police station and area patrolled by an increased police presence, funded by the Babergh Community Safety Partnership. Residents were also involved by keeping diary sheets and reporting forms for instances of anti-social behaviour.
Actions taken by the partnership included identifying offenders, using Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, interviews and official warnings at police stations, as well as referrals made to inclusion programmes, such as Babergh’s Be Active programme.
The multi-agency approach had an immediate effect on crime levels in the area – with a reduction of 74 per cent in anti-social behaviour incidences being reported since the project began.
Ms Watson added: “This has been a multi-agency approach which has been really successful.
“We have seen a huge reduction in incidents in a short space of time but this does not mean that we are going to become complacent in the future or not give the area the attention it deserves.”
And Inspector Paul Crick, of Sudbury Police, added: “The level of crime and anti-social behaviour on this estate was causing real concern for the community, and through focused work with partner agencies, it has returned to a place where residents and visitors can feel safe and secure.
“The Sudbury and Great Cornard Safer Neighbourhood Team holds regular engagement events and meets with the public to discuss any concerns they may have, and will continue to work with partners to tackle identified issues.” ENDS
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