Southampton city centre will see new joint police patrols and extra CCTV cameras after Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones pledged fresh investment during national ASB Awareness Week. The money comes from the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s ASB and Safer Communities Funds and is part of a wider push to cut anti-social behaviour across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The Commissioner said nobody should feel unsafe where they live and work. “Many people have told me how ASB has impacted their mental health or, in some extreme cases, has caused them to move home. That’s just not right,” she said. The funding will also pay for seizing and crushing vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters used irresponsibly, alongside youth engagement programmes. Last year 19,907 ASB incidents were recorded across the force area, down from 22,141 in 2022/23.
The national week is led by Resolve, the UK’s community safety organisation, and runs from 29 June to 5 July. It brings together housing, policing, councils and charities to strengthen local responses. Previous youth engagement projects supported by the Commissioner include The Waterfront Restorative Approaches Partnership, which uses sailing to build confidence and life skills, and Leigh Park Boxing Club, which offers structure and mentorship.
Youth engagement programmes have targeted hotspot areas such as Portsmouth seafront, and early intervention projects have been delivered in partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. The drop in recorded incidents demonstrates sustained progress through the Commissioner’s targeted interventions and partnership activity.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
