First Acceptable Behaviour Contracts are issued

Six youths in Costessey have been served with Acceptable Behaviour Contracts - the first time any have been issued in South Norfolk.

South Norfolk Council’s Neighbourhood Safety Co-ordinator Carolyn James, police officers from Bowthorpe and Wymondham and other agencies from the South Norfolk Crime Reduction Partnership, worked together with the local community to gather intelligence and information about the youths’ anti-social behaviour. This evidence resulted in the contracts being served.

The contracts make individuals and their families responsible for their behaviour, while accepting that their previous conduct is unacceptable to members of the local community. If they fail to comply with the contracts, Anti-Social Behaviour Orders will be issued.

Costessey residents have been told that the contracts have been served, in the hope that they will work with local police and let them know if the youths’ behaviour breaches the contracts.

The message to the local community from the South Norfolk Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership is that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in any form and that action will be taken against anyone who fails to act in a reasonable and responsible manner.

Carolyn James said that the co-operation of local people is vital:

“We are pleased that with the co-operation of local people, the police and our partners, we have succeeded in drawing up the evidence necessary to serve these contracts. We do not want anyone’s lives to be affected by anti-social behaviour, but if they are facing such a problem, this kind of action may help encourage them to confide in us and let us help them.

“I hope that my work is already beginning to have an impact on communities’ confidence in coming forward. In a low crime area such as South Norfolk, tackling anti-social behaviour is key to combating the fear of crime. And I believe that when we take on such behaviour head on, like this, we can start to control it and prevent it from blighting peoples’ lives.”

Sgt Alun Gibbs, of the Crime Reduction and Community Policing unit in Bowthorpe and Wymondham, said:

"This is part of an ongoing initiative which will include an increase in patrols by uniformed and plain clothes officers to ensure that the local community feels reassured and to make sure that the individuals involved comply with the terms of their individual contracts.

“Individuals who take part in acts of anti-social behaviour bring misery to the communities in which they live. They disrupt the lives of everyone through their utter selfishness. The individuals that I have dealt with appear to care little about the impact of their behaviour on others. The local community have the right to live in peace without fear of harassment.

"The Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and the Anti-Social Behaviour Initiative from South Norfolk CDRP sets out in the clearest possible terms that proactive action will be taken against anyone who wants to take part in thuggish behaviour. There is no place for it in the county of Norfolk."

To report acts of anti-social behaviour, contact Police Sergeant Gibbs on 01953 424242

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