VANEL (Karl) attended a Police led “Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Summit” recently so that we could learn about how we can help locally to support residents in our communities who might be affected by or concerned by ASB.
VANEL projects have us connecting to many residents across North East Lincolnshire and our role leading on Neighbourhood Watch and connecting to community safety partnerships means we have a part to play in helping communities feel safer.
Anti-Social Behaviour can affect anyone, but many communities and individuals suffer more than others. But what exactly is ASB? How can you report it or get support? These were questions tackled at the summit which was supported by local councillors and numerous community and charitable organisations.
Some of the messages I took away from the summit? Firstly, just how hard it is to tackle the route causes of ASB, but also just how much huge, connected effort is being put into combating ASB through all the partners involved.
Whilst some ASB is simply ‘one-off’, in reality much of it is connected to organised crime or long-term issues that lead individuals to committing crime. Partners are working tirelessly within the resources they have to identify and track individuals whilst tackling issues that bring people to the point of committing ASB.
Useful information
If you want to know more about ASB and what to do about it then take a look at:
Humberside Police page on ASB.
North East Lincolnshire Council page on ASB.
It’s important to identify what is and what isn’t ASB and then how to report it to the right authority – usually Police or NELC.
Nationally the ASB Help website is full of important resources and information.
The national Neighbourhood Watch network also has information about ASB here.
Across Humberside a partnership approach to tackling ASB is in place and if you want to you can find out much more about the approach and the ‘ASB toolkit’ via the Humberside Police and Crime Commissionerwebpages about ASB here.
A new approach to supporting people locally has been launched, so if you’ve been affected by crime in any way then visit the Affected by Crime website (a Humberside approach from Victim Support and the PCC).
Why is VANEL involved?
VANEL works in close partnership on community safety matters with various partners including Humberside Police Neighbourhood Policing Teams; NELC; social landlords; Humberside Fire and Rescue Services and others.
We’re active in the community sharing safety advice, encouraging reporting, and delivering projects and initiatives which tackle crime.
VANEL leads on Neighbourhood Watch for North East Lincolnshire (via Karl and with information on www.nelwatch.org.uk). We’re also part of Humberwatch (the Humberside Police Force Area Neighbourhood Watch Association).
VANEL is signed up to the Community Safety Charter (through Ourwatch).
VANEL participates in the Grimsby East and Grimsby West Neighbourhood Policing tasking meetings so that we can contribute community solutions and ideas to the conversation and can be informed about trends.
We’re involved in the Clear, Hold, Build partnership in Nunsthorpe and were active participants in the Safer Streets West Marsh and East Marsh programmes. We take part in Police and partner ‘days of action’ when we can.
And we work with the partners on the GRIP radio system (Grimsby Retailers in Partnership).
We try and find ways to lead on community initiatives that contribute to better community safety. We developed the “Stay Safe guides” which have now reached thousands of older people across NEL. Our Keeping Older People Safe (KOPS) programme brings many community safety ideas together.
We obtained funding to allow us to deliver free items of household and personal safety equipment to residents across NEL and have reached a thousand residents in this way.
We’ve worked on Designing Out Crime approaches such as repainting the Haycroft Underpass and the Canopy Community Hub. Karl also champions scams/fraud awareness through delivery of Fraudwatch funded talks and other initiatives.
We’ve supported numerous positive alternative youth activities (sports, music, art) that help provide diversionary approaches for young people.
Our Neighbourhood Networking approach brings us into communities across North East Lincolnshire where we can help communities understand how to protect themselves against crimes such as burglary, scams and ASB.
What’s next?
If you’re concerned about ASB (or other crime) then please look at some of the resources provided above. Report crime via 101 (or 999) but speak to your local Neighbourhood Policing Team when you can. You can also speak to your local ward councillors about your concerns. If there’s a ward forum or community group near where you live, join in – it’s better to connect to others who might be able to help.
You can subscribe to MyCommunityAlert to keep in touch with what’s happening in your area.
Join or start a Neighbourhood Watch group. VANEL can help.
Any questions please contact Karl Elliott at VANEL who can provide information and signpost you or provide some support. karl@nelwatch.org.uk or karl@vanel.org.uk. 07936 415804. Visit www.nelwatch.org.uk for our local guidance page.