Mid Sussex District Council to mark the UK’s first ASB Awareness Week

PR2370/ES/JB - 13/07/2021

Mid Sussex District Council has joined a national campaign that is bringing together people and organisations from across the country to take a stand against anti-social behaviour (ASB) and make communities safer.

The Council will be working in partnership with the Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Policing Team and Clarion Housing to mark the launch of the UK’s first official ASB Awareness Week.

Running from July 19 to 25, ASB Awareness Week – Making Communities Safer aims to encourage communities to take a stand against ASB and highlight the options available to those facing it.

The Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour team will be out in the three town centres with Police colleagues and Clarion Housing during the week speaking to local people about how they can report concerns and what we can do to tackle anti-social behaviour. The team will be available from 11.30am – 3.30pm on the following days -

Wednesday 21st July – Queen’s Walk, East Grinstead
Thursday 22nd of July – The Orchards Shopping Centre, Haywards Heath
Friday 23rd of July – Market Place, Burgess Hill.

Councillor Norman Webster, Cabinet Member for Community said: “This is a great initiative, especially as ASB has risen sharply during lockdown and we need to do all we can, along with our partners across West Sussex, to highlight this unacceptable behaviour. The vast majority of residents are considerate and law-abiding, and we cannot allow a few disruptive individuals to impact the lives of so many. The Council, together with partner agencies can take enforcement action against persistent offenders and I encourage residents to report ASB if they are affected.”

Neighbourhood Inspector Darren Taylor at Sussex Police said “Mid Sussex Police are thrilled to be working in partnership with Mid Sussex District Council in promoting awareness around anti-social behaviour. I know that both organisations work tirelessly to tackle anti-social behaviour in our area as we believe that everyone has the right to a peaceful and quiet life”

Rebecca Bryant OBE, chief executive of safety specialists Resolve, said: “We need to change the way we think about ASB. It is not low-level crime. It devastates the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.

“As the nation begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic and our society and economy celebrates the start of return to normal life, it is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs nationally and locally so that people feel safe in their homes and communities.

“It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community.”

Organised by community safety specialists Resolve, ASB Awareness Week is being backed by the Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Local Government Association (LGA), National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC).

For more information visit www.resolveuk.org.uk/asbawarenessweek

ENDS