HARLOW Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) is cracking down on anti-social behaviour in the town centre after incidents of drug taking, street drinking and nuisance behaviour.

A lot of the activity has centred on the Terminus House car park where teenagers have reportedly gathered to smoke and sell drugs, leaving members of the public feeling intimidated. Officers have increased patrols in the area.

There have also been complaints of teenagers congregating and behaving anti-socially around one of the shops in Eastgate which has led to officers working with Harlow Council’s licensing team to investigate the sale of vapes to underage consumers.

The NPT is continuing to tackle street drinking, the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, and shoplifting.

Crime in Harlow has fallen by 4.4% in the past 12 months with 412 fewer offences reported. Levels of anti-social behaviour have increased by 2%, with 17 more offences committed than in the previous year.

Sergeant Allen Kittles of the town centre team said:

“When we are out on patrol in the town, anti-social behaviour is the biggest issue the public and local businesses talk to us about.

“We don’t want people congregating outside shops, drinking alcohol or using drugs in public, or riding e-bikes and e-scooters. We are working with the council and local security teams to tackle these issues before they escalate.

“The town centre is for everyone to enjoy and it’s totally unacceptable to have the atmosphere spoiled by a small number of individuals who don’t want to behave.

“We’re continuing to seize modified e-bikes and e-scooters, and we’re working with shops that are being targeted by shoplifters by putting in plain-clothes officers to reduce the number of thefts.

“If you’re committing ASB in the town centre, we will use CPWs (Community Protection Warnings), CPNs (Community Protection Notices) and Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to remove you. We’ve recently issued CBOs to some young adults who were committing ASB and our stance is clear – if you ignore our advice, we will put you in front of a court.”