Ref: PR 2688 
Date: 26/07/2010

The Police, Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) and Wakefield Council have been putting anti-social behaviour at the top of the agenda this week.

A series of one day training and awareness seminars, held by Wakefield Together  Partnership, has seen more than 264 delegates attend the Wheatsheaf Conference Centre near Castleford to discuss issues around dealing with anti-social behaviour.

The training, which is the first time that professionals from all areas of the Partnership have been brought together for such an event, was designed to help bring a more consistent and pro-active approach to tackling anti-social behaviour in our communities.

Delegates included police officers, police community support officers and support employees, neighbourhood patrollers, dog wardens, housing officers, anti-social behaviour case workers, victim support, crown prosecutors and solicitors.

Presentations were given on how the law and practical application of different agency powers can tackle anti-social behaviour in our local areas.

Speakers for the event were professionals working in anti-social behaviour across the district including WDH who demonstrated how housing law can be effective in controlling anti-social behaviour and nuisance neighbours.

During the afternoon session the delegates worked through a table top exercise based on local case studies to problem solve anti-social behaviour issues.

Speaking after the events, Wakefield District Police Inspector Dick Jones who organised the conferences, said: "A key part of the district's anti-social behaviour delivery improvement plan was to ensure that all the professionals who contribute to reducing anti-social behaviour in Wakefield District have the proper knowledge and training to help them do their jobs even better. We hope that a real appreciation of what part each agency can play in tackling offenders, environmental issues, or supporting and responding to victims, will improve our service to the people of Wakefield District. It was great to see the different agencies coming together to problem solve real case studies in this way."

Gary Lumb, WDH Community Safety Manager said: "WDH welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the seminars and be able to demonstrate how our own role in using civil powers can have a positive effect in challenging anti social behaviour and supporting those who suffer from it. We work hard to deal with nuisance behaviour in whatever form it takes and the sessions helped partner agencies to have a greater understanding of each other?s ability to deal with different situations."

Councillor Olivia Rowley, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for environment and communities, said: "Bringing professionals together is a key way of helping tackle anti-social behaviour, which is why this event was so important. More knowledge and training means better results and by working together, we can help drive down anti-social behaviour."

ENDS