Earlier this month, East Suffolk Council officers took to the streets of Lowestoft alongside partner agencies to identify and address criminal and anti-social activity.
Officers from the Council’s Licensing, Environmental Protection, Housing and Communities teams were joined for the multi-agency exercise by counterparts from Suffolk Constabulary, Turning Point Suffolk and Lowestoft Vision.
Organised by the East Suffolk Community Safety Partnership (ESCSP), the one-day impact event, on Wednesday 15 April, also involved the Council’s Waste team and East Suffolk Services Ltd.
Partner agencies conducted a series of checks and inspections in retail and residential areas within the recently established Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) area in Lowestoft town centre, with the aim of at strengthening community safety through collective activity.
Nicole Rickard, East Suffolk Council’s Head of Communities and Leisure, said:
“Working together with partner agencies on this type of focused impact day enables us to achieve immediate and meaningful results. It also helps us to build on the existing relationships with partners and strengthen our efforts to safeguard our towns and villages.
“Recently we have been focussing a lot of our efforts on tackling anti-social behaviour, particularly in Lowestoft, where we have worked with partners to introduce a Public Space Protection Order. Residents should feel safe in the knowledge that we are working collaboratively to make their area a safer place.”
Among the results achieved during the impact event in Lowestoft were, so far:
- Fly-tipping and rubbish incidents identified and clean ups planned
- Several incorrectly displayed Health & Hygiene certificates
- One uninsured and untaxed vehicle identified
- Several parking violations in permit zones
- Several alcohol confiscations
East Suffolk Council’s teams also took the opportunity to engage with local residents, offering advice and support where needed.
This impact event follows the recent approval of a new PSPO in Lowestoft, which has strengthened measures to tackle behaviours including the dangerous use of e scooters and e bikes, public urination, spitting, threatening conduct, and the wearing of masks or face coverings used to conceal identity while engaging in anti-social behaviour.
The PSPO will run for a three-year period, reviewed each year to determine whether any restrictions need to be amended or added to ensure the order continues to reflect local issues and safeguards community safety.
To report anti-social behaviour, call 101, use the police online reporting form or visit the anti-social behaviour section of the East Suffolk Council website.
To report a crime anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Dial 999 in an emergency or to report a crime in progress or call 101 if the matter is not an emergency or visit the Suffolk Constabulary website.
