A team of specialist police officers is contributing to a significant reduction in antisocial behaviour in communities across Nottinghamshire.
In January 2024, Nottinghamshire Police launched a new team of five problem-solving coordinators who proactively work to reduce and deter crime and antisocial behaviour in each county borough and the city centre.
Reports of antisocial behaviour have fallen by 90 per cent around the town centre in West Bridgford following joint efforts by the Rushcliffe neighbourhood policing team and the force’s Prevention Hub to tackle the issue.
Officers were called to a series of reports about groups of young people trespassing on rooftops, committing criminal damage, and engaging in other vandalism between August and October 2024.
A problem-management plan was created to resolve the incidents. This plan is used to analyse recurring issues and achieve the best possible outcomes for communities.
Effective use of the plan in West Bridgford has seen reports of antisocial behaviour fall from a peak of 11 incidents in August last year to just one in January 2025, as officers continue to monitor and respond to concerns.
Several children have been escorted from rooftops by officers, who are warning parents and young people about the dangers involved. One 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, and investigations are ongoing.
Neighbourhood officers have been listening to the concerns of businesses and residents and have put measures in place to ensure these areas experience a reduction in criminal activity.
Designing Out Crime officers, who specialise in crime prevention through environmental design and planning recommendations, assessed rooftop access to high street businesses.
As a result, a series of additional CCTV cameras linked to a 24-hour control room, with the ability for an operator to issue audio warnings to trespassers, have been installed.
The neighbourhood policing team has also increased proactive and high-visibility patrols to deter antisocial behaviour and has visited nearby youth clubs to speak with staff and engage with young people.
Problem-solving coordinators are part of the force’s Prevention Hub, which is a collaboration between multiple force departments responsible for developing and delivering strategies to prevent crime and disorder throughout the city and county.
They work collaboratively with neighbourhood teams to help identify and monitor patterns in antisocial behaviour and can recommend community protection measures, such as begging warnings or criminal behaviour orders, which can ban an offender from specific places.
In Sherwood, effective problem management has helped reduce antisocial behaviour around a group of homes by 92 per cent.
Officers were called to 35 reports of antisocial behaviour in Weaving Gardens between May and August 2024.
Residents’ concerns included children playing loud music, littering, knocking on doors before running away, and climbing an electricity substation.
Officers from the Sherwood neighbourhood policing team conducted 49 targeted and proactive high-visibility patrols in the area over the summer months.
They spoke with several groups of children, advised them why their behaviour was unacceptable, recorded their details, and gave them a verbal warning.
Four children were escorted home by officers, and their parents were spoken to.
Officers have also made recommendations to the companies responsible for the fencing and substation to improve security and reduce antisocial behaviour.
As a result of the problem-management plan and the conclusion of the school holidays, just three reports were received between September and December 2024.
Sergeant Emily Hewitt, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Prevention Hub, said:
“Tackling antisocial behaviour is a priority for our neighbourhood teams, and we take these concerns from our communities seriously.
“The effective use of problem-management plans has contributed to more than a 90 per cent reduction in antisocial behaviour in areas of Sherwood and West Bridgford.
“By being proactive in preventing crime, we are reducing demand on officers, who have not had to repeatedly attend the same incidents and can instead focus their efforts on other priorities.
“Collaborative work between neighbourhood teams and our Prevention Hub, alongside residents and businesses, has helped ensure these areas see a reduction in criminal activity and improved their appeal.
“I would urge members of the public to please report all instances of antisocial behaviour to Nottinghamshire Police, as this helps neighbourhood teams identify areas of concern and allows officers to attend incidents at the earliest opportunity.”
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