Police tackle anti-social behaviour on Basildon Elm Green estate

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, this morning joined Stephen Metcalfe MP and Cllr Andrew Baggott, Leader of Basildon Council, to view action taken to reduce anti-social behaviour in Basildon.

In July last year the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner announced investment of an extra £1.1 million in high-visibility patrols and targeted intervention to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in eleven hotspots across the county. This was titled Operation Dial.

Basildon Elm Green was identified as one of the eleven ASB hotspots and today Roger Hirst, PFCC for Essex, joined Stephen Metcalfe MP, Cllr Andrew Baggot, Leader of Basildon Council, and Cllr Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council, in viewing positive changes in the area which have taken place thanks to this investment.

A total of £91,519 has now been invested in the Elm Green area, which has seen 592 extra hours of Essex Police patrols, 444 hours of Community Safety patrols, a community safety event and youth outreach work at a local community centre.

This has resulted in year-on-year figures which show anti-social behaviour has decreased in Basildon by 31.4 per cent and across Essex anti-social behaviour is down 37.6 per cent.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Our communities deserve to live in safe neighbourhoods where police are not strangers but visible, responsive and working with local businesses, groups and neighbourhoods.”

“By working together with councils, partners and communities we are able to identify and target offenders, reduce the risk of incidents by improving the physical layout of spaces and work with schools and community groups to provide alternative activities for young people.

“The figures show this approach is working.”

Councillor Andrew Baggott, Basildon Council’s Leader and Cabinet Member for Public Order and Safer Communities, said: “We are committed to making the borough a safer place by working with our partners to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. 

“The funding has allowed us to put additional focus on delivering against these priorities, through increased patrols at Elm Green, an identified hotspot area in the borough. It’s brilliant to see the positive impact this has had on the community as we continue to keep our neighbourhoods safe for everyone.”

Stephen Metcalfe, Member of Parliament for South Basildon and East Thurrock, said: “I would like to thank Roger and Essex Police for the work they have done to tackle anti-social behaviour. 

“As Member of Parliament, I know this is an issue that is of great concern to my constituents and I am pleased that together we are doing more to address it. This initiative is a great example of how the extra police officers across Essex are making a real difference to the day to day lives of our residents and I hope to see such projects continue in the future.”

Chief Insp Daniel McHugh, District Commander of Basildon Policing District, said: “Feedback we are getting from the community is the Operation Dial patrols, community wardens and police officers, is working really well.

“Crime is falling, anti-social behaviour against individuals is falling, violence is falling. What I’m seeing from the community is everyone is feeling a lot safer, feeling more part of the community and less fearful of crime, so all those indicators tell me that what we are doing here, as a partnership, is working.”