Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner welcomes Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week as Operation Hotspot crackdown continues in Bishop’s Stortford

Bishop’s Stortford is one of 12 towns in Hertfordshire which have been targeted by police for a crackdown on anti-social behaviour (ASB) as the county’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) reassured residents that action was being taken.

The areas were pinpointed after Herts PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards welcomed national Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week – which runs until Sunday (Nov 24) – with figures showing hundreds of extra cases being tackled.

Shortly after taking office in May, Mr Ash-Edwards announced a determination to crack down on ASB with the launch of Operation Hotspot.

His office secured an extra £1m Home Office funding to provide additional foot patrols across the county. These are being targeted in identified hotspot areas, on top of normal daily business, to help reduce ASB and serious violence.

In the past five months there have been 591 cases where officers have used additional powers to address ASB behaviour, including dispersal orders, community protection warning notices and public space protection orders.

Mr Ash-Edwards said: “Hertfordshire residents have told me they want to see visible and responsive policing, tackling anti-social behaviour and disorder in communities. That is what Operation Hotspot is delivering.

“I wanted to mark ASB Awareness Week by reassuring people that action is being taken to address the actions of a small minority which can disrupt the lives of others.

“As well as making additional arrests and taking weapons off our streets, figures show that since the launch of Op Hotspot almost 600 other measures have been taken to reduce ASB through the use of proactive policing powers.

“These high-visibility patrols are designed to deter and catch people committing offences, as well as boosting engagement with residents and businesses.

“I would encourage individuals who experience anti-social behaviour to report it to their local authorities or police. By coming forward, you can help ensure that communities receive the support and interventions they need and that ASB is addressed effectively.”

Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week is held annually by the charity Resolve ASB. It brings together government, policing, councils and communities to raise awareness of the impact of ASB and promote collaborative efforts with the goal of making communities safer.

Besides Bishop’s Stortford, the areas where Operation Hotspot is running are: Hertford, Hitchin, St Albans, Rickmansworth, South Oxhey, Borehamwood, Watford, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City and Waltham Cross.