East Suffolk residents are invited to meet with representatives from the Council’s Communities Team and Suffolk Constabulary next week as part of a national campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Running from 18 to 22 July, ASB Awareness Week aims to encourage communities to take a stand against anti-social behaviour (ASB) and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it.
Organised by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, ASB Awareness Week features a series of events across the UK involving councils, police forces, housing associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs.
Representatives from East Suffolk Council and Suffolk Constabulary will be visiting towns across the district to speak to residents about tackling ASB in their communities and how to report it.
Cllr Letitia Smith, cabinet member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism said: “These sessions will provide residents with information on how to report ASB and what is being done across East Suffolk to reduce ASB incidents and ensure people feel safe in their communities.
“We would urge residents not to suffer in silence if they experience ASB. Incidents can be reported to our ASB officers or to SuffolkConstabulary if people feel that they are at immediate risk or in danger.”
Recent YouGov research commissioned by Resolve found that more than half of people (56%) believe that ‘more needs to be done’ to tackle ASB in their community. However, after they witnessed or experienced ASB, a similar proportion of the public (57%) said that they did not report it to anyone.
ASB can affect anyone at any time and can range from annoying other people to serious violence and criminal activities. Types of ASB include vehicle crime, substance misuse, vandalism, harassment and threatening behaviour, verbal abuse and criminal damage.
Rebecca Bryant OBE, Chief Executive of Resolve said: “ASB is not low-level crime. It can have a long-lasting impact on the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.
“It is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs so that people everywhere feel safe in their homes and communities.
“We are delighted that East Suffolk Council is supporting this hugely important campaign. It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.”
The ASB Team will be available as follows:
Beccles, Bungay and Halesworth:
Tuesday 19 July (10am-12pm) - Halesworth Library
Thursday 21 July (11am-12pm) - Tesco Beccles
Saturday 23 July (2-3pm) - Wharton St car park, Bungay
Felixstowe:
Tuesday 19 July (12-4pm) - Felixstowe Triangle
Framlingham and Wickham Market:
Monday 18 July (10am-12pm) - Framlingham Library
Wednesday 20 July (11am-1pm) - Wickham Market Library
Leiston and Saxmundham:
Monday 18 July (10am-12pm) - Saxmundham Waitrose
Wednesday 20 July (10am-12pm) - Leiston Co-op
Thursday 21 July (4-6pm) - Leiston skatepark
Friday 22 July (4-6pm) - Saxmundham skatepark
Lowestoft:
Monday 18 July (10am-1pm) - Britten Centre
Tuesday 19 July (10am-1pm) - Nicholas Everitt Park, Oulton Broad
Wednesday 20 July (1-4pm) - Whitton Estate
Thursday 21 July (10am-1pm) - South Beach
Friday 22 July (4-7pm) - Gunton Community Park
Kesgrave and Carlford/Fynn Valley:
Friday 15 July (from 2pm) - Kesgrave Chinwag
Saturday 16 July (from 12pm) - Grundisburgh village fete
The ASB Team will also be visiting Kesgrave High School and a display of information will be in Kesgrave Library throughout the week.
Kessingland and Southwold:
Monday 18 July (1-4pm) - Southwold Co-op
Wednesday 20 July (1-4pm) - Kessingland Co-op
Woodbridge:
Tuesday 19 July (12-2pm) - Woodbridge Co-op
The ASB Team will also be presenting to students at Farlingaye High School during their assembly, and a display of information will be in Woodbridge Library throughout the week.