Antisocial behaviour (ASB)

Hotspot policing involves identifying key locations for antisocial behaviour and targeting activity and resources to them. This gives foot patrols a chance to engage with communities and undertake information gathering and problem-solving.

Research suggests that hotspot policing can reduce overall offending, including drug offences and property offences. Government statistics from year ending March 2022 show that 120,000 patrols nationally resulted in an average 7 per cent reduction in violence against the person and robbery offences in hotspot areas.

Merseyside receives funding from the Home Office to target serious violence and antisocial behaviour (ASB) across 25 hotspot areas.

Merseyside Police have dedicated schools’ officers in most of the secondary schools in Merseyside, as well as PCSOs who regularly deliver talks and support in primary schools.

Education around antisocial behaviour begins at a primary school level and continues through into secondary school.

As part of this education journey, all pupils have the opportunity to engage in a range of interactive, age-appropriate sessions exploring aspects such as:

• What it means to commit antisocial behaviour.
• The impact of antisocial behaviour on individuals and communities.
• The consequence and legalities of committing antisocial behaviour.
• Strategies for disengaging with problematic situations and peers.

Having an established presence in schools and building relationships with pupils allows schools’ officers to be a source of early guidance for parents, staff and students where there are concerns that a young person may be at risk of being drawn into antisocial behaviour. 

The antisocial behaviour pathway gives offenders the chance to change their behaviour at key points through the offender journey with the dual aims of intervention and reform.

In the first instance, offenders are identified and warned about their behaviour with letters which clearly set out the harm being caused, what behaviours need to change, and the consequences if those behaviours continue.

If this initial letter is not adhered to, the police and council will discuss which is the next, most proportionate, step to take.

Potentially, this could be to progress to an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement (ABA), where the offender needs to commit to, and sign, a behaviour contract.  However, in particularly serious instances, this step may be bypassed.

If the ABA is not adhered to, the police, council or housing association will look to take action (such as criminal proceedings or an eviction). The pathway is intended to be a staged response allowing for all partners to have an input in the problem solving.

As one of the ‘trailblazer’ areas taking part in the Immediate Justice pilot, we are taking swift action against antisocial behaviour in Merseyside.

Using funding secured by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, this initiative sees Merseyside Police working with our region’s five local authorities and the charity Causeway to identify individuals found committing antisocial behaviour in Merseyside to ensure they repair the damage they have inflicted as quickly as possible.

Whether that damage is on an individual or a community as a whole, the ambition is for them to begin restorative work as soon as 48 hours after their offence.

This includes through completing unpaid work, such as litter picking, graffiti removal and gardening.

The aims of Immediate Justice are:

• For victims to know antisocial behaviour is treated seriously and with urgency
• For those perpetrating antisocial behaviour to learn the impact of their behaviour on victims

By encouraging offenders to think about the consequences of their actions and recognise the impact on their victims and the wider community, this pilot is focused on preventing further incidents, making our communities safer for all.

More than 70 perpetrators a month are now being put on this programme and as a result, areas across Merseyside are being improved and made cleaner, nicer places to live.

The pilot is scheduled to run until March 2025 when its success across all the participating areas will be evaluated.

As the school holidays get underway, 30 grassroot organisations have been awarded a share of £500,000 to run projects to help prevent antisocial behaviour across our region.

The money is being used to provide free, safe, positive activities for nearly 12,000 young people to help prevent spikes in violence and antisocial behaviour over the summer holidays, autumn half term and other key times.

From youth workers going out to hotspot areas to mental health courses and leadership training, the grants will be used to reach and support at risk young people, build their trust, and help to steer them away from behaviour which could be harmful or dangerous.

The money is being invested by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, and the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP) through their new Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES).

The YES funding is focused on initiatives which engage and support young people, helping them to gain new skills, increase their confidence and resilience and fill their time in a positive way over the school holidays.

Of the 30 successful organisations, 10 are based in Liverpool, eight in Sefton and four in Knowsley, St Helens and Wirral.

Projects offer a wide range of activities from graffiti and art classes to music sessions and DJing, capoeira, boxing, and football.

Groups of kids throw fireworks, swear at shop staff and make the lives of Knowsley residents miserable. Please click here to read more.