EXTRA patrols to combat anti-social behaviour (ASB) are underway around The Stow in Harlow.

Officers from Harlow’s Community Policing Team are working with Harlow Council’s community safety officers on Operation Dial and together they will complete more than 2,000 hours of patrols in the next eight months.

The Stow is a residential area with a shopping precinct in the centre and a large playing field. The local community have reported instances of street drinking and drug use.

The Stow is one of 11 hotspot areas across the county that will benefit from a share of a £1.1m investment by Essex’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to combat ASB.

The funding is provided by central government as part of their Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy and is designed to deliver high visibility patrols, public engagement, targeted youth outreach and early intervention.

Anti-social behaviour in Harlow has fallen by 33.5% in the 12 months to the end of July this year with 519 fewer incidents recorded. Across Essex, ASB has fallen by more than 60% in six years.

Harlow Community Policing Team already have one well-established ASB operation running in the city centre with Operation Shopper having seen more than 100 illegally ridden e-scooters seized.

Sergeant Martin Doig of Harlow Community Policing Team said his team are committed to tackling ASB in the town.

“We know from listening to the community what an important issue anti-social behaviour is. We have identified times when there have been incidents of ASB and during those peak hours we will increase officer numbers in the area.

“Local residents will see dedicated patrols from both our team and the council’s community safety officers who we work alongside as part of the Community Safety Partnership. We hope that by being visible, we can provide some reassurance.

“We have a very proactive team, we want to drive down ASB and we will take every opportunity for enforcement action. I’ve done a number of patrols myself and we’ve had very positive feedback. Local people have been really happy to see officers on the streets and we want to engage with them as much as possible.

“If people witness anti-social behaviour, they should call 101 or report it online to the police or Harlow Council. We are here to help to the community and deal with any problems they report to us.”