Ashfield Rural Neighbourhood Priorities

Issue: Dangerous Driving including speeding and off road bikes.

Including junction 27 and the surrounding area. Reports of car cruising and associated meets are an issue at the location with concerns for manner of driving, road safety and legitimate road users being inconvenienced as well as Off Road Bikers using Harlow Woods as a race track which is causing issues for those using the area for a legitimate purpose.

Action:

A tasking has been created for high visibility patrols of the area at key times. S59 warnings and seizure of vehicles will take place. A Public spaces Protection Order is in place and an application is being heard later in the year to extend the parameters across the district which will allow penalty notices to be issued to individuals identified as involved in car cruising/meets which is forbidden under the PSPO.

We are also working with partners in the fire service and Ashfield District Council to develop an intervention around education to those committing the offences mentioned above.

Issue: Drug Dealing and Drug Use

Drug dealing has consistently been identified through community surveys, feedback and priority setting with partners as the highest concern across the district. We have formulated a tactical plan incorporating the government’s latest 10-year plan which has key principles of Breaking drug supply lines, improving treatment and recovery, and achieving a generational shift in demand for drugs.

We are doing this by relentlessly pursuing dealers and organised crime groups through search warrants, stop search and intelligence led investigations which are shared through our social media streams.

We are working with partners and Vulnerable Adult Support Services to improve referrals to drug treatment, protect those at risk of exploitation and were necessary ensuring treatment through the use of conditional cautions. It is important drugs such as cocaine are not seen as recreational and the societal damage locally and across the world is understood to reduce demand for these drugs. We will engage local school children to ensure the harms caused through drug use are understood across Ashfield to ensure generational reduction in demand for drugs.

Issue: Anti Social Behaviour across the district

Action:

PCC and Police survey indicate after drug dealing ASB causes the most concern locally. We operate Operation Springboard in conjunction with Ashfield District Council as well as using home office funding to more accurately analyse where the problems lie so we can target our patrols at key times. We support a number of diversionary activities for local children incluidng Premier League Kicks, football at West Notts College and a working to relaunch boxing opportunities. ADC have mapped youth provision on their website with links to this being given to children spoken to a spart of Op Springboard.