Officers act on anti-social behaviour (ASB) concerns

We are acting on concerns from the community about anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Burton-upon-Trent town centre.

Problem-solving officers from East Staffordshire local policing team (LPT) are working with partners to establish a multi-agency approach to tackle begging.

Police community support officers (PCSOs) have recently been approached by members of the public worried about the issue.

A man and woman have been issued with community protection warnings (CPW), which have now been upgraded to community protection notices (CPNs) after being seen repeatedly asking people for money, despite having access to all necessary amenities.

PC Georgina Brudzinska, problem solving lead for East Staffordshire, said: “As part of our work to address these concerns, we’ve established that many of those individuals flagged to us are not homeless and have access to support services.

“To tackle this, we are carrying out regular patrols, focusing on begging hotspots and persistent offenders.

“Our PCSOs are also liaising with East Staffordshire Borough Council, Coopers Square shopping centre security staff and other shop workers in the area.

“Alongside partners, our aim is to create a welcoming and safe town centre where businesses can flourish, the public can feel safe and vulnerable people are supported through the appropriate channels.”

A CPW is a written warning given to individuals or groups engaged in ASB. If the behaviour doesn’t stop, a CPN, which is a formal legal document with potential consequences if breached, can be issued.

In East Staffordshire, there are several organisations and services dedicated to supporting the homeless. These include:

•         The YMCA Rough Sleepers Outreach Team. For immediate assistance, call 0800 130 3415. They offer a range of services to help rough sleepers find a place to stay.

•         Burton and East Staffordshire Partnership, which coordinates services for rough sleepers and provides information on local organisations that can help.

•         East Staffordshire Borough Council offers housing advice and an out-of-hours emergency contact number for those in need.

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