End of 6 - 29/07/25

There have been increased patrols and presence of officers in parks and green spaces following the breaking up of schools. Visible police patrol can reduce crime, however, but only if it is targeted in the small geographic locations – or hot spots – where crime is concentrated (Sherman and Eck, 2002; Weisburd and Eck, 2004). A prime example of this for us would be Edgwick park where ASB is frequent and crime often occurs. 

Other research has suggested that visible patrol in hot spots may only be effective where a particular threshold of crime already exists (Ratcliffe, 2011). The crime reduction effect of targeted patrol might also be fairly short-lived.

For example, Novak and others (2016) found that increased foot patrol reduced violence in targeted hot spots relative to control areas, but only for the first 30 days of the three-month intervention period.

One of the barriers to implementing targeted patrol in the past has been the traditional view that targeting hot spots simply results in crime moving around the corner or being displaced elsewhere. We can only try and do our best to make the neighbourhoods we live and work in a better place.

This set officers from Stoke and Wyken made an arrest for rape and assault of a child. Online you can Report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences

This service will help you report rape and sexual assault, and other sexual offences like indecent exposure and upskirting. You can also report sexual harassment using this service.

First we'll ask you some questions to make sure reporting online is right for you, and so we can give you the right form to fill in.

Then you'll fill in the report itself.

This will take about 20 to 30 minutes, so please make sure you're safe to take that time.

We won't judge you, we'll treat you with respect, and we'll always put your health and wellbeing first.

You can report something that's happened to you, or to someone else. You can report anonymously, without giving us your details.

Of course call 999 in an emergency.

We plan to enhance the frequency of our Speedwatch activities in various areas, responding to numerous requests from different locations. We encourage you to continue informing us about roads where you observe excessive speeding, and we will either organize a Community Speedwatch or have Officers implement enforcement actions.

What does ASB look like?

ASB includes behaviours that cause nuisance, alarm, or distress. It isn’t always a crime, but it can have a big impact on people’s day-to-day lives.

Examples include:

The impact on communities

ASB can damage more than property - it can damage lives. It might stop someone from using the park, affect someone’s sleep, or make people feel anxious in their own home. When left unreported, it builds up, creating tension and making places feel neglected or unsafe.

That’s where you come in.

Why reporting ASB helps

Some people hesitate to report ASB, thinking it’s too minor or that nothing will be done. But every report counts. It helps police, councils, and housing teams build a clearer picture of where problems are happening and how best to respond.

By reporting, you’re not complaining - you’re looking out for your neighbourhood. You’re helping us take action, support vulnerable individuals, and put long-term solutions in place.

How to report ASB

It’s quick, confidential, and makes a difference:

 Officers will be patrolling green spaces around the area on bicycles over the next few weeks, this is try and deter and action any signs of anti social behaviour and try and make the public feel safer whilst we are out and about. However, as previously discussed, this is not the appropriate method for reporting crime. We will strive to cover as many green spaces as possible, including Barras Green, Stoke Heath, Caludon Castle Park, St Margarets Park, and the green area surrounding the Lindfield Area. Additionally, we make it a priority to patrol the River Sowe and the Stoke Floods area to discourage any illegal fishing activities. 

 TGP (Targeted Guardian Patrols) now target both anti social behaviour and violent crime, along with Riley Square, Hillmorton Road and Edgwick Park, we also have the stretch of Walsgrave Road from the Ball Hill Area all the way past St Michaels Churchyard. We recently had an arrest of a female who had been causing a variety of ASB issues around this area and so Officers will continue to patrol these areas frequently.

Ratcliffe J and others. (2011). 'The Philadelphia foot patrol experiment: A randomized controlled trial of police patrol effectiveness in violent crime hot spots'. Criminology, 49(3), pp 795-831.

Sherman L and Eck J. (2002). 'Police for Crime Prevention' In: Sherman L and others, eds. 'Evidence-Based Crime Prevention'. London: Routledge.

Novak KJ and others. (2016). 'The efficacy of foot patrol in violent places'. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 12, pp 465-475