PCC announces range of funding for blitz on anti-social behaviour

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has revealed that over 25 projects are to benefit from her £500K cash injection designed to further tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The half a million pound boost is from the PCC’s ASB Fund which has an annual pot of £200K. The Commissioner announced the availability of the extra funding in March for local authorities, police, Community Safety Partnerships and community groups to provide partnership solutions to recurring ASB issues.

PCC Donna Jones said: “Anti-social behaviour casts a dangerous shadow over many of our communities. Severely impacting the quality of life for residents, it also threatens livelihoods and negatively imprints on the wider community as a whole.

“These devastating incidents can often be precursors to more serious criminal offences. By providing this additional funding for diversionary activities and projects, this can be addressed and challenged at the outset.”

The PCC met with the partners of one of the successful bids in Southampton on Tuesday 2 July 2024. Led by the city council, the Safe City Partnership includes police, South Central Ambulance Service, the city’s Street Pastors, GO! Southampton, Synergy Security and the universities. The funding covers safe alarms, facial recognition and joint patrols with police officers and ambulance on Friday and Saturday nights across the city centre.

Councillor Christie Lambert, Cabinet Member for Communities and Safer City at Southampton City Council, said: “We are delighted to hear about the proposed funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner. Southampton’s Safe City Partnership has long recognised the negative impact of increasing anti-social behaviour throughout our city, and we are pleased that the Police and Crime Commissioner has agreed to award this important funding that will work towards our mission of making Southampton a safer city for all to enjoy.” 

The Police and Crime Commissioner will also fund a range of youth engagement projects and drop-in services, support for youth clubs and outreach as well as the installation of CCTV cameras. There is also funding for intervention programmes run by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service for young people to build resilience, learn about fire safety and make safer choices.

Its Children & Young People Delivery Manager is Joanna Gregory: “Hampshire and Isle Wight Fire and Rescue Service is committed to playing its part in the reduction of anti-social behaviour and in the reduction of violence within the communities we serve. The Commissioner’s ASB grant funding money will directly fund a number of our new Early Intervention programmes. These programmes support young people to build their personal resilience, and equip them with the tools and knowledge to stay safe and make safer choices so they can positively impact their local communities.”

PCC Donna Jones says tackling ASB across the two counties is an absolute priority: “Anti-social behaviour is a scourge upon society and it makes people feel unsafe. My job is to listen to people’s concerns and make sure there are effective policing strategies in place for safer streets and safer communities. Since its inception, my ASB Fund has been targeted and effective, and I will make sure it continues on this positive trajectory.”

The successful bids being funded by the Commissioner’s ASB Fund are:

1. Youth drop-in service for Andover Community Engage (Test Valley) £12,886
2. Wildlife cameras for Whitchurch Conservation Group (B’stoke & Deane) £1,448.63
3. Youth engagement work for Fawley Parish Council (New Forest) £7,400
4. ASB early intervention programme for HIOWFRS (Gosport) £5K
5. Sandown Project for IOW Council £14,700
6. CCTV Yeovilton House for Gosport BC £12,600
7. Youth engagement work for KWood Youth Club (Test Valley) £8,727.60
8. Youth Engagement work in school holidays for Test Valley BC £10K
9. City Partnership Work for Southampton CC £32,793
10. Workshop facilitation for Portsmouth Creates (Portsmouth) £20K
11. Youth Project Work for Artswork (Portsmouth) £25K
12. CCTV installation & speed bumps on Marine Parade for Gosport BC £7,600
13. Legacy Project Mentoring Service for Yellow Brick Road (Rushmoor) £33,925
14. Training to support youth engagement for New Forest DC £10K
15. Maintenance & costs for Ybus for Y Services (Fareham) £25K
16. Support for Prospect Youth Club for Rushmoor BC £12K
17. CCTV monitoring for Ryde Methodist Church (IOW) £1,200
18. Development of partner engagement activity for HIOWC (IOW) £25,500
19. CCTV cameras for Portsmouth CC £25K
20. Partnership working with Durham Uni for Southampton CC £50,450.72
21. Outreach youth work for Southampton CC £25K
22. Signage for Funtley village (Fareham) £2K
23. ASB early intervention programme for HIOWFRS (Fareham) £15K
24. ASB early intervention programme for HIOWFRS (Rushmoor) £5K
25. ASB early intervention programme for HIOWFRS (Hart) £5K
27. Speed gun equipment for Fernhill Ward residents (Rushmoor) £6K
27. Outreach led by Portsmouth Mediation Service for Southsea seafront £34,375
28. Youth diversionary activities led by Youth Options for Southampton £21,620
29. Activities aimed at reducing ASB led by Sovereign Network Group for Hythe £17,084