Two weeks on from the launch of Ashfield’s Operation Nexus, officers have continued their proactive crackdown on antisocial behaviour (ASB).
The operation, launched on Friday, September 11, saw dozens of officers descend on Sutton-in-Ashfield, where retailers, shoppers and residents had previously raised persistent issues with ASB.
During the first day of Operation Nexus, officers completed more than 45 impact surveys, offered help and advice, and arrested three people. One man was arrested, charged and found guilty of breaching a civil injunction, all within three hours.
Now, two weeks on, officers have continued their intense crackdown, carrying out further enforcement action and ensuring ASB is pushed out of the high street.
On Friday, September 18, officers issued two 48-hour ‘directions to move’ following concerns about intimidation, begging and ASB near Asda in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
Another 48-hour direction to move was also issued on Tuesday (September 22), following reports of drug taking near the same Asda.
Directions to move are issued to ensure problem individuals cannot persistently cause issues at a specific location and give police and council officers powers to arrest should someone return while the direction is in place.
On September 18, officers prosecuted a man for breach of a dispersal order only one day after he was handed it on September 17.
Also on September 18, officers took proactive action to stop three youths from entering an abandoned building on The Oval in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The youths were referred to their school safeguarding teams.
As well as tackling antisocial behaviour, officers have worked alongside council partners to address rough sleeper encampments linked to aggressive begging and ASB.
After receiving a number of complaints from members of the public and businesses in Lakeside, council officers, supported by the force, engaged with three rough sleepers, offered appropriate support and removed the tents, along with a substantial amount of food and human waste.
Two individuals were also moved on, while one other was accommodated in temporary accommodation.
Inspector Keith Croft, district commander for Ashfield, said: “It has been a busy two weeks since we first launched Operation Nexus, and we have no intention of slowing down this proactive action.
“Not only have we addressed issues with ASB in Sutton-in-Ashfield town centre, but we have now also been tackling the issues further afield.
“As part of the action, council officers have moved a prolific rough sleeper encampment which had been causing issues for a number of residents and shoppers, and those nearby businesses have reported a positive impact on their shoppers’ experiences.
“They have also helped to secure temporary accommodation for one rough sleeper who had nowhere else to go, ensuring they are now safely off the street.
“Our message is clear: aggressive begging, drug taking, violence and other forms of antisocial behaviour have no place in our communities, and we will continue taking proactive action wherever these issues are reported to us.”
