POLICE will step up patrols in the Frensham area tomorrow (Friday) as part of a county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, which started on Monday, will see Surrey Police officers and colleagues from borough councils, Surrey County Council and housing providers, clamping down on the behaviour that is causing the most adverse impact on individual people or communities.

Superintendent Duncan Greenhalgh, Surrey Police lead on anti-social behaviour (ASB), said: “The planned activity during ASB Awareness Week is part of our ongoing work with partners to ensure that victims’ voices are heard and the issues affecting them are dealt with.

“Where ASB issues cannot be resolved by those concerned or by mediation we all work closely together to make sure the right solution is found to put a stop to problems and prevent them from recurring.

“Together, we try to help perpetrators of ASB to understand the impact of their actions and discourage further bad behaviour. But, if it does continue we have a range of enforcement options available, including warning letters, fixed penalty notices and – for more serious cases – prosecution.

“Since last July, 38 Criminal Behaviour Orders have been handed out, 18 anti-social behaviour Injunctions have been put in place, 15 having been obtained by housing associations to protect their tenants and 10 premises associated with persistent ASB have been closed.

“Several community protection notices and warning letters have also been issued by local authorities. These are being used for a variety of issues ranging from dangerous dogs to inconsiderate parking and are proving very effective in getting the perpetrators to change their behaviour.”

The Awareness Week also aims to help ensure residents understand what ASB is, which organisation deals with which type of ASB and what can be done to tackle it so that local issues can be quickly resolved.

Superintendent Greenhalgh added: “Anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of incidents and scenarios. However, we know that residents are sometimes unsure what is and isn’t ASB, what self-help options – such as mediation – are available and who problems should be reported to.

“To help with this a one-stop-shop ASB information website is now available at www.surreycommunitysafety.org.uk/.”