THE Leader of Harlow Council, Councillor Dan Swords, joined Police and Community Safety staff on high visibility patrols of the The Stow as part of a project targeting antisocial behaviour hotspot areas. 

The Stow is one of eleven Essex ASB hotspot areas to get high-visibility patrols thanks to £1.1m of extra government funding.

For the next 9 months high visibility patrols of The Stow are taking place involving Police and Harlow Council staff. 

The eleven hotspots have been identified using the last five years of recorded anti-social behaviour incidents, feedback from the public and from partners in Community Safety Partnerships.

Each area is tightly defined and will benefit from extra police visibility patrols, council and partner patrols and robust enforcement of anti-social behaviour as well as engagement with local businesses and communities.  

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, said:

“It is unacceptable that people have to suffer from anti-social behaviour in their communities. By tackling these issues early, we can stamp out this behaviour and make it very clear this is not acceptable and that there will be consequences.

“The proactive work being carried out in Harlow off the back of the funding will help identify and target offenders, reduce the risk of incidents and help provide reassurance to businesses in the Stow Shopping Centre.”

Councillor Dan Swords, the Leader of Harlow Council, who joined officers on patrol last Sunday (30 July), has welcomed the funding. He has vowed that the council will work with the police to stamp down on antisocial behaviour. Councillor Swords said: 

“Antisocial behaviour is a real blight on our communities and can devastate lives. That’s why I welcome the funding boost from the government and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner which will help residents and businesses who have suffered with issues in The Stow for far too long. 

“Tackling antisocial behaviour is one of our priorities to improve council services and restore pride in Harlow and we will work together with the police to make residents and businesses feel safer. Although ASB reported offences in the town have fallen by more than a third in the last 12 months there is still more work to do, and we will tackle this issue head on. 

“I was delighted to join council staff and police community support officers for a shift on the frontline to patrol The Stow on a Sunday evening. I know the presence and uniformed visibility was very much welcomed in the community. We spoke to local shopkeepers, and I saw for myself some of the issues first hand. We will continue to support patrols over the next 9 months as part of the hotspot project and tackle ASB across the town.” 

Residents can report any form of anti-social behaviour to Essex Police www.essex.police.uk or via 101 or the council www.harlow.gov.uk/safety-and-crime/report-antisocial-behaviour