Youth outreach street patrols target young people engaging in anti-social behaviour

Specialist police staff who work with young people have been patrolling the streets of Nottingham to prevent and divert potential offenders away from serious violence and anti-social behaviour.

Nottinghamshire Police’s youth outreach team, which is part of the Prevention Hub, went out on patrol during the afternoon and evening on Friday, June 14.

The team provided a visible presence around Denewood Crescent, Harvey Hadden Sports Village and neighbouring playing fields in Bilborough.

Heading out on foot, the patrol covered areas that have been identified by the force and its partners as having issues with youth-related anti-social behaviour, such as harassing members of the public and trespassing in a derelict building off Wigman Road.

A total of 50 young people were successfully engaged with about their behaviour in the community. This included being made aware of the dangers that derelict buildings present, which, in the past, had attracted trespassers and warranted emergency calls.

The long-term aim of the targeted patrols is to significantly reduce the number of anti-social behaviour reports as well as disrupting behaviour before it escalates.

The patrol also paid a visit to Skate Base, a family-friendly roller-skating disco, with the opportunity to engage with hundreds of people, promote the force’s youth outreach team and, where appropriate, signpost young people into further support.

Known as the Hotspot Response Fund, the patrols are part of a new initiative whereby the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire received a £1.5m Home Office grant to facilitate more uniformed patrols across the city and county.

The scheme, which runs until 2025, is based on College of Policing academic studies that found short and frequent patrols are most effective at reducing crime, with officers and staff spending two hours in one area before moving on to another.

During the patrols, officers and staff can focus on engaging with businesses and members of the public to address their local concerns with measures that can include dispersal and public space protection orders.

The Prevention Hub is a collaboration between multiple force departments responsible for developing and delivering strategies to prevent crime and disorder throughout the city and county. 

Romel Davis, Nottinghamshire Police’s youth outreach coordinator, said: “We are aware first-hand of the distress young people engaging in anti-social behaviour can cause.

“I want to reassure our communities that we are taking their concerns seriously and addressing this through targeted, proactive patrols across the city and county.

“We take great pride in going out and engaging with young people whilst providing a visible presence on the street.

“During the patrol we came across parents and young people that we have worked with previously, meaning we could effectively utilise our existing relationships to reduce serious violence and anti-social behaviour.”