Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has thrown his full support behind Lancashire Constabulary’s new county wide anti-social behaviour (ASB) crackdown, which sees ASB hotspots targeted with extra policing and patrols.
As part of a county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour and as a result of an additional £2m in funding from the Home Office, an extra 120 foot patrol hours in Clitheroe will be undertaken every month over the next six months.
This new rollout comes as part of Lancashire Constabulary’s Op Centurion which was first launched in July 2023. Initially only rolled out to six Lancashire districts, the approach has now been rolled out across the county, including to Clitheroe in the Ribble Valley.
The operation is led by the Constabulary's local neighbourhood teams, supported by the new ASB Prevention and Problem-Solving Command and a team of specialist officers.
The team will work with neighbourhood police officers, councils, housing associations and key partners across Clitheroe to shut down drug dens, seize nuisance bikes and secure arrests for those involved in a variety of offences from drug dealing to criminal damage.
Nigel Evans welcomed the new patrols:
“One of the number one issues which Ribble Valley residents raise with me is crime. What people are always telling me is that they want to see more officers on the beat and more visible policing.
“I am delighted therefore, to welcome this new approach by Lancashire Constabulary which will see more police patrols in anti-social behaviour hotspots including Clitheroe. I know this will be welcomed by my constituents and I am pleased to see they are already seeing progress across the county with more nuisance vehicles off the street and more arrests made.”
Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden said:
"Anti-social behaviour is a blight on our communities and an issue that residents raise with me time and time again, which is why I have made it a priority in my Fighting Crime Plan for Lancashire.
"Op Centurion is stepping up the fight against ASB in our communities. The Constabulary has dedicated neighbourhood police officers in every area, and they are supported by the ASB, Prevention and Problem-Solving Command. This team is now operational and working with our partners to find long terms solutions to address the underlying issues that cause ASB in the first place.”