Op Mastery, CCTV and PSPO may not mean anything immediately to residents of North East Lincolnshire, but they are all key in combatting Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB).
The Council, Humberside Police and other organisations are dedicated to making the borough a safer place however they can. During Anti-Social Behaviour week, Monday, 30 June to Sunday, 6 July, they’re highlighting some of the fantastic work that has been done to help make North East Lincolnshire a better place.
Working in unison with Humberside Police, With You, WISE and other organisations, the Days of Action across Grimsby town centre, Grant Thorold Park and Immingham have proved invaluable. Under the title of Op Mastery, Op Agility and Op Mandala respectively, the initiatives have looked at tackling ASB and other crime in certain areas with great success.
Under Op mastery, crime in Grimsby town centre has reduced by 5% with ASB reducing by 14% and alcohol related ASB BY 51% over the course of the last 12 months. However, these Days of Actions aren’t the only explanation for this.
The Council’s state of the art CCTV system has almost 140 static and 37 rapid deployment cameras covering the borough, with operators linking into Police officers who are on the ground. This joined up approach means crime can be spotted and dealt with quicker than before.
For example, over the course of three months, October to December 2024, Council cameras aided in 555 separate emergency services incidents ranging from missing people to those committing ASB.
However, it isn’t all about enforcement. Elsewhere in Grimsby, through the Greening Up Our Town Centre grant, the Council have worked alongside Grimsby in Bloom and Dogma Art to provide an attractive aesthetic to those shopping or working in the town centre.
With numerous flowerbeds, living walls and vibrant street art, there is plenty to welcome people into Grimsby, deterring individuals from committing ASB.
Other operations, such as Op Snap, have helped to tackle specific ASB issues in Cleethorpes by following this model. Reports from residents and businesses highlighted key locations where nuisance driving was a regularly occurring issue.
Dedicated CCTV support and police patrols in these areas over the course of several months last Summer led to vehicles being seized with numerous drivers given cautions and warnings about their behaviour.
Members of the public are being encouraged to send in dashcam footage of poor driving as part of Op Snap to help discourage further ASB regarding driving.
Another key element of tackling ASB are the Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) around the borough. These are intended to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour in a local area that is detrimental to the community’s quality of life. They do so by imposing conditions on the use of that area to ensure everyone can use and enjoy public spaces without experiencing nuisance and annoyance.
For example, PSPOs are in place along Victoria Street, Grimsby, to prevent people from cycling. The necessity of this particular PSPO was outlined in May 2024 when Grimsby resident Susan Godfrey was left scarred by someone not adhering to the rules.
Ultimately, Susan was left with a scar along her arm, a lasting reminder of why these PSPOs are essential for ensuring the public’s safety. Working in conjunction with these measures are the Town Centre Marshals who are solely stationed in Grimsby Town Centre, ensuring the PSPOs are being adhered to. A deterrent in the campaign against ASB, these individuals are there to help, but also to enforce and issue fines to those who do not follow the rules.
Councillor Ron Shepherd, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “This is a very important week for the Council and our partners.
“Officers work tirelessly to ensure the public feel safe and welcomed across North East Lincolnshire and the recent results show that what we are doing is working.
“We are a zero tolerance Council and will take appropriate action against this small minority of people who are causing ASB. Although it is ASB week, I want to make it abundantly clear that this is something we focus on everyday and will continue to do so to make sure North East Lincolnshire is welcoming for those who live, work and visit the borough.”
Humberside Police Area Commander, Paul French, added: “We’ve been working hard to tackle anti-social behaviour across North East Lincolnshire by collaborating closely with local partners. Each month, we hold dedicated days of action focused on addressing the key issues impacting town centres in the area.”
“Listening to our communities plays a vital role in what we do, it helps us understand your concerns and take the right steps to deal with any emerging problems. Our goal is to help make our neighbourhoods safer places to live.”
“None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of our local communities. By working with you, we’re able to build strong relationships that help us better understand your needs and priorities.”
How to report ASB?
If you witness any ASB and want to report it, there are a number of effective ways you can do so:
- NELC website – To report ASB, visit the North East Lincolnshire Council website here, https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/keeping-our-area-clean-and-safe/anti-social-behaviour/
- Call 101 – If you feel the police are required, call 101 immediately and ask for help or 999 in an emergency
- Op Snap – If you have footage of people driving in an anti-social manner, you can report it via the website here, https://www.humberside.police.uk/police-forces/humberside-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/operation-snap/
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