Werrington Library Volunteers To Spearhead New Anti-Social Behaviour Campaign

Anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of unacceptable activity that causes harm to an individual, to their community or to their environment. This could be an action by someone else that leaves you feeling alarmed, harassed or distressed. It also includes fear of crime or concern for public safety, public disorder or public nuisance.

This is a nation-wide problem but there is evidence that pro-active measures can alleviate the situation and so the volunteers at Werringtons Community Library & Wellbeing Centre have taken the bold step of creating an Anti-Social Hub where members of the public can report their concerns and know that these will be communicated to the police and safety partnership. The village has a large number of vulnerable residents with twice the national average of older people. Youngsters, who may be out of parental control pose a significant threat. The group will be liaising with agencies to bring the situation under control, in some cases working directly with parents.

The police, local authorities and other community safety partner agencies, such as Fire & Rescue and social housing landlords, all have a responsibility to deal with anti-social behaviour and to help people who are suffering from it. The group will coordinate local issues and deal with them through appropriate channels.

Hub Organiser parish councillor Kenn Griffiths said that we are in a situation which has to be managed, and commented, “Werrington is a lovely place to live and we have to remember that this problem can arise as a result of a comparatively small number of individuals creating problems which can adversely affect large swathes of the community. Our Hub will be the central point for peoples comments or complaints and will be of service to those who wish to remain anonymous”.

In the library there are simple forms to collect information which will be collated to build up a plan for action and residents are urged to make use of this special service in the interests of the whole village, alternatively you can complete an online submission form. For more information contact Kenn on 017831 612688 or [email protected].