PCC John Tizard attended a multi-agency event today to mark ASB week alongside colleagues from Bedfordshire Police including Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy, local authorities and other partners.

Speaking at the event in Bedford, John said:

"Anti-social behaviour is not unique to any one social economic demographic, any one community or any one age group.

“Anti-social behaviour can affect every community in every village and town. It can reduce our quality of life. It can irritate. It can do harm to people, property, the environment and businesses. It can divide communities and neighbourhoods.

“Wherever I go in the county – rural areas, small towns, town centres and urban heartlands when I ask what the immediate and most pressing concerns people – residents and businesses – have invariably I hear the words “anti-social behaviour.

“Whilst these crimes are not up there alongside homicide, serious sexual and/or domestic violence nor serious organised gang crime, they should never be ignored nor side lined.

"However, there is a direct correlation between some anti-social behaviour and serious crime especially where drugs are involved. The on-street drug exchange will have a link to organised drug gangs. We have to tackle such crime at both ends to the line that connects them.

"Just as with the Safer Streets Safer Town Centre plan for this summer, which started yesterday, anti-social behaviour requires collaboration between local authorities, parish and town councils, and the police. Indeed, many of the concerns experienced in town centres relate to anti-social behaviour.

"I am very pleased that in addition to funding more local police officers the government is taking action to strengthen police powers and options when faced with anti-social behaviour.

"Anti-social behaviours create victims, and we all have a legal and a moral duty to support these victims. And to reduce the number of victims we need to blitz anti-social behaviours. This is non-negotiable.

“This conference should signal a safer Bedfordshire and one less plagued by anti-social behaviour".