LOCAL people are being urged to have their say on plans which set out how to protect Wiltshire communities from anti-social behaviour.
The Wiltshire and Swindon Community Safety Partnership has produced a draft strategy to outline how organisations across the county will work together to reduce anti-social behaviour. Before the strategy is finalised, the local organisations working together to make communities safer want as many as people as possible to give their views.
In the Westbury area, there were 345 incidents between September 2011 and August 2012, down 23% on the previous year.
People can view the draft strategy and comment online at www.wiltshire. gov.uk/asbstrategyconsul tation, it closes on 31st December. Paper copies can also be obtained by contacting Wiltshire Council on 01225 716610.
Chairman of the community safety partnership, Maggie Rae said, “Reducing the level and impact of anti-social behaviour is a key priority for all of us working as part of the community safety partnership. Anti-social behaviour can blight people’s lives in many different ways, including affecting how safe they feel and can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing.
“We welcome the opportunities this strategy consultation presents to involve everyone in tackling an issue that affects us all.”
The strategy sets how over the next two years agencies will work with communities, victims, perpetrators and with each other to reduce the impact of anti-social behaviour and tackle its root causes.
Anti-social behaviour will affect most people at some point in their lives. They may have been directly affected, know someone who has experienced it or heard about it happening in their community.
Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for public protection, Keith Humphries said, “We have been working closely with many partner agencies, in the statutory and voluntary sector, and also with communities, to tackle problems of anti-social behaviour.
“Through partnership working we have achieved many successes but we must not be complacent. I am confident this strategy sets out clearly how in the future we will continue to address this problem, especially working with our communities, and welcome the launch of the consultation this week.”
The partnership wants the strategy to reflect the views of local communities and is encouraging as many individuals and groups as possible to comment.
Superintendent Charlie Armstrong from Wiltshire Police said, “This is a great initiative that brings together key partnerships working towards tackling anti-social behaviour across Swindon and Wiltshire. Anti-social behaviour can be extremely damaging to individuals and communities. This strategy clearly demonstrates the appetite of the community safety partner agencies to deal robustly with all forms of anti-social behaviour and improve people’s quality of life.
“This is an important collaboration and I would encourage everyone to provide feedback to help inform this consultation document.”
