Safer Communities
Established in 2004, the Accredited Community Safety Officers
(ACSO) Service tackles community safety issues, such as anti-social
behaviour and nuisance across the county.
The Havant Team, based at Staunton Community College, West
Leigh, consists of 8 officers who carry out high visibility patrols
on foot, cycles and in prominently marked vehicles equipped with
CCTV
.
Dealing with issues and concerns that affect residents’ everyday
quality of life, officers have the power to request the name and
address of offenders and failure to comply means they could be
arrested by a police officer.
ACSOs
also have the
power to confiscate alcohol and cigarettes from young people who
are under-age.
They assist in monitoring acceptable behaviour agreements and
enforcing anti-social behaviour orders. The officers act as
professional witnesses where there are breaches of such orders and
provide evidence when they witness criminal behaviour.
A ‘Yellow Card’ scheme has been introduced to challenge
youngsters’ behaviour and recognise their responsibilities to
others. Over 1200 Yellow Cards have been issued and letters sent to
parents and, where necessary, the need for additional specialist
support has been identified.
Following consultation with the police, the
ACSOs
can now also
issue penalty notices for:
- throwing fireworks in the street
- consuming alcohol in designated public places.
The officers generally give advice and issue warnings first, but
where appropriate they will issue fixed-penalty notices for
littering, fly-posting, dog fouling, graffiti and cycling on a
footpath. They also take action and report on environmental crimes
and can require the removal of abandoned vehicles.