A NEW joint enforcement partnership between Waverley Borough Council, Surrey Police and community groups, marked the start of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week with a visit to a Haslemere “hot spot”.

Haslemere PCSO Daniel Keen joined Waverley community safety officer Katrina Burns and Haslemere Leisure Centre general manager Louise Jelley at the skate park, responding to reports by residents of drug dealing, drug use, underage drinking, graffiti and littering.

Waverley launched its joint enforcement initiative in July to crack down on practices blighting the borough, such as fly tipping, dog fouling , graffiti and littering.

It brings together Waverley’s environmental enforcement, environmental health, housing, parks and licensing officers to work with police and community groups. Funding from the police and crime commissioner for Surrey, has enabled the borough council to acquire new vehicles and training for officers to help catch offenders.

Waverley now has new powers to issue fixed penalty notices, seize alcohol from those drinking in public or who are under 18 , and to take names and addresses of those committing anti-social behaviour offences. On Monday, Katrina Burns secured the site from troublemakers who come in from an adjacent wooded area by ensuring the gates to it are locked installing more secure fencing and cutting back the vegetation. Waverley has also arranged for more frequent clean-ups to reduce litter there.

“Younger kids use it to skate but an older group comes in later, some of whom cause problems. We want to keep people safe from trouble makers, so report underage drinking or drug use by calling the police on 101.”

Surrey’s 11 boroughs, police will be patrols in the areas where ASB has been previously reported.