I chaired a second meeting in Long Melford on Tuesday to discuss progress with combating anti social behaviour in the village. The event turned out to be much less stormy than the previous meeting which was held on a sultry evening back in June.
The police and Babergh, in partnership with the Parish Council, have certainly made good progress and the number of recorded incidents of Anti Social behaviour have fallen dramatically since the end of June. The village is now sharing its own Police Community Support Officer with Sudbury Upper School and her work, engaging with young people, already seems to have made a difference. Babergh’s mobile CCTV has also had an impact, as has the presence of the Sudbury Pastors.
The Parish Council has plans to make improvements and to install lights and play equipment in one of the worst ASB hotspots. This approach has been found to work in other places.
This is not the end of the process however. It is intended to continue to monitor the situation and Safer Neighbourhood Team Tasking Meetings will be held in the village during 2011.
