Patrols stepped up in Bilborough following antisocial disorder

Neighbourhood officers have stepped-up patrols in Bilborough following repeated reports of antisocial behaviour (ASB).

Groups of young people have reportedly been causing a nuisance near the Harvey Hadden Sports Village for the last few weeks.

Reports have ranged from people wearing balaclavas and acting aggressively, to groups running into shops and trying to steal stock.

Police have also received multiple hoax phone calls of a serious nature recently, which have all been traced to a local telephone box and an identified mobile phone number.

The ASB reports are all believed to have taken place in the area surrounding the leisure centre, Wigman Road and Bracebridge Drive too.

City west neighbourhood policing team officers are currently working with local businesses to try and identify the young people involved in the incidents.

As well as carrying out numerous home visits as part of these inquiries, police have increased patrols across Bilborough to help reassure residents.

In response to the disorder, a 48-hour dispersal order was also introduced last Wednesday (10 January) which ran until Friday (12 January) night.

The order gave officers additional powers to move people that didn’t live there away from the area and – in the case of under 16s – escort them back to their homes. 

Sergeant Darran Owen, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This antisocial behaviour was wholly unacceptable and caused distress to members of the local community who were just trying to go about their normal day. 

“Facilities like Harvey Hadden are a great resource to have in the Bilborough area and those enjoying its facilities should not have to put up with this type of behaviour. 

“As a neighbourhood policing team, we know how much this type of offending can impact the lives of residents, which is why we treat these reports so seriously.

“We are working hard to identify the group of youths involved and have conducted numerous home visits already, in conjunction with Community Protection and Nottingham City Homes.

“Our officers have also stepped-up patrols in the area to provide some reassurance to the public and have been gathering all the available CCTV to help identify those involved.

“We would ask parents or guardians of young people living in the area to keep track of where they’re going out and to please reinforce what is expected in terms of how to behave in the community.”

Anyone who has any information about this disorder or any other ASB in their community can report it to the police on 101, or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.