The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead’s Community Wardens are again joining a national campaign to help tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and keep people safe.
Running from 3 to 9 July, ASB Awareness Week 2023 aims to encourage communities to take a stand against ASB and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it.
Organised by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, the week features a series of events across the UK involving councils, police forces, housing associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs.
To support the campaign, the Royal Borough’s Community Wardens will be conducting a concerted week of community engagement stands, enforcement operations and extra patrols in parks and open spaces.
The wardens focus on deterring ASB, promoting crime prevention, enforcement operations and community engagement. Over the year from June 2022 to June 2023 they engaged with almost 500 vulnerable residents, offering advice, mentoring and support, dispersed on 186 occasions groups or individuals causing ASB and conducted 158 targeted operations in the borough to help reduce crime and ASB.
Recent YouGov research commissioned by Resolve found that almost one in five people have had to consider moving home because of the impact ASB was having on them; one in 10 have actually moved. Despite this, more than half of those surveyed who were either a victim or witness of ASB did not report the ASB.
The Royal Borough is urging members of the public not to suffer in silence if they experience ASB. Incidents can be reported to the wardens, or to the police if people feel they are at immediate risk or in danger. To contact the wardens, email wardens@rbwm.gov.uk or call 01628 685636.
Look out for the wardens on their community safety stand at Maidenhead Library on Thursday 6 July from 9am to 12.30pm, and in Peascod Street, Windsor on Friday 7 July from 2pm to 4pm. Members of the public will be able to speak with the wardens who will be offering crime prevention advice and support. The wardens will give a scam awareness talk at Elizabeth House, Cookham on Thursday 6 July from 1.30pm to 3pm.
During the week, they will also be conducting targeted dog-fouling patrols and other focussed patrols to deter ASB, in addition to their usual patrols through the day and into the evening.
Councillor Simon Werner, the council leader and cabinet member for public protection, said: “We know how much our residents value our Community Wardens. They provide a high profile, reassuring presence year-round, linking together all parts of the community. They visit schools, day centres, businesses and liaise closely with other agencies and departments within the borough to try to solve issues in the community as quickly and efficiently as possible, support community safety and engage with residents to listen to their concerns.
“The team is planning a week of concerted activity for ASB Awareness Week, in addition to all the routine work they usually undertake to help make our borough a safer place to live, work and visit. We take a strong stance against anti-social behaviour in all its forms, and we encourage people to report issues to our community safety team.”
Rebecca Bryant OBE, Chief Executive of Resolve, added: “ASB is not low-level. It can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.
“It is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs so that people everywhere feel safe in their homes and communities.
“We are delighted that the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is supporting this hugely important campaign. It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.”
For more information about ASB Awareness Week, please visit https://www.resolveuk.org.uk/asb-awareness-week/about-asb-awareness-week