Kent ‘s Chief Constable Michael Fuller says the county’s police force is already ahead of the game when it comes to addressing anti-social behaviour.

In a range of activities around the county the force is already working with partner organisations on schemes to divert young people from nuisance crime and encourage them to play an active role in their communities. It also works to support families and communities with specific problems.

Through neighbourhood policing and other local initiatives the force is listening to the concerns of people of all ages in the community and responding to them, as well as enforcing the law to bring those responsible for nuisance crime to justice.

Mr Fuller was responding to the Government’s 42-page Respect action plan, published today, which addresses the causes and effects of anti-social behaviour.

The Chief Constable said: ‘The Respect Agenda will allow police and local partners to work together to create safe sustainable communities.

‘The force already works in many of the areas the Government’s action plan refers to. For example, we have nine community support officers employed as joint family management officers. Their work with problem families has been recognised nationally and their role is now seen as best practice in this area.’

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, was in North Kent today to see another pioneering scheme in action. The Positive Futures initiative,  a partnership with Charlton Athletic FC, gives local youngsters the chance to put their energy into sport and keep occupied.

The Chief Constable said: ‘We engage regularly with young people through a combination of youth crime reduction officers, drug liaison officers and police community support officers, especially those linked to schools.  We have appointed a force youth crime reduction officer to coordinate our youth strategy.

‘The force also has close links with youth groups around the county, with which it works to address young people’s safety, as we are aware that young people are in fact most likely to be victims of crime.

‘We are committed to neighbourhood policing  and now have 384 geographically based police officers, police community support officers and Special Constables in dedicated neighbourhood roles, working with local communities and partner organisations to tackle local problems.

‘We also benefit from support provided to us by 100 Kent County Council community wardens and Medway Council’s own community safety street wardens.’

Where needed Kent will use legal powers to stop anti-social behaviour. There have been more than 500 acceptable behaviour agreements in force in the county and 160 anti-social behaviour orders. There have also been 52 dispersal orders, which give powers to move people on from places where nuisance behaviour is a problem. Three are still in action, in South East Kent.      

Mr Fuller said: ‘From listening to the people of Kent we know how much anti-social behaviour can blight their quality of life and we will continue to work with them to tackle the problem.’