Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, joined the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, last week to review the progress which has been made recently by Essex Police to reduce anti-social behaviour.
Last July, Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, announced an investment of an extra £1.1 million in high-visibility patrols and targeted intervention to tackle anti-social behaviour in 11 hotspots across Essex. This was entitled “Operation Dial” and formed part of the Government’s expansion of hotspot policing.
Basildon Elm Green was identified as one of the 11 hotspots and, on Friday, Stephen joined the Commissioner to review the progress which has been made thanks to this investment. Also in attendance were Councillor Andrew Baggott, Leader of Basildon Council and Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council, as well as Chief Inspector Daniel McHugh and Inspector Steve Parry.
A total of £91,519 has been invested in the Elm Green area, which has seen 592 extra hours of Essex Police patrols, 444 hours of Community Safety patrols, a community safety event and youth outreach work at a local community centre.
This has resulted in year-on-year figures which show anti-social behaviour has decreased in Basildon by 31.4 per cent and across Essex anti-social behaviour is down 37.6 per cent.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “I would like to thank Roger and Essex Police for the work they have done to tackle anti-social behaviour.
As Member of Parliament, I know this is an issue that is of great concern to my constituents and I am pleased that together we are doing more to address it. This initiative is a great example of how the extra police officers across Essex are making a real difference to the day to day lives of our residents and I hope to see such projects continue in the future.”
Roger Hirst said: “Our communities deserve to live in safe neighbourhoods where police are not strangers but visible, responsive and working with local businesses, groups and neighbourhoods.
By working together with councils, partners and communities we are able to identify and target offenders, reduce the risk of incidents by improving the physical layout of spaces and work with schools and community groups to provide alternative activities for young people.
The figures show this approach is working.”
Andrew Baggott said: “We are committed to making the borough a safer place by working with our partners to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
The funding has allowed us to put additional focus on delivering against these priorities, through increased patrols at Elm Green, an identified hotspot area in the borough. It’s brilliant to see the positive impact this has had on the community as we continue to keep our neighbourhoods safe for everyone.”
Chief Inspector Daniel McHugh, Basildon Borough Commander, said: “Feedback we are getting from the community is the Operation Dial patrols, community wardens and police officers, is working really well. Crime is falling, anti-social behaviour against individuals is falling, violence is falling. What I’m seeing from the community is everyone is feeling a lot safer, feeling more part of the community and less fearful of crime, so all those indicators tell me that what we are doing here, as a partnership, is working.”
