Since the inception of Safer Neighbourhoods in Novenber 2006, the Kenilworth Pannel consisting of Police, WCC, WDC, Kenilworth Town Council, Probation service, Drugs Advisory, Neighbourhood watch and others have considered how best to address the substacial concern for the level of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) carried out by young people in Kenilworth. The attached comprehensive action plan seeks to draw on all of the resourses available, to provide adequate facilities for safe entertainment, analyse problem solving and deliver a robust response to those young people who disrupt the tranquility of the town.

Insp. Richard Woodcock
Sector Inspector
Warwickshire Police

Action Plan Summary

The Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhoods Team Panel was setup on the 21st of November 2006 as part of a new countywide approach to partnership working.

The panel gives local residents a forum for expressing their concerns to partner organisations such as the Police, County and District Councils.

Early meetings of the panel identified from questionnaires completed by Kenilworth residents that there was a general perception of Anti-Social Behaviour from youths in the town and a need for an action plan to address this.

The three main issues (priority concerns) identified by Kenilworth residents are, the conduct of teenage youths in respect of;

1. Criminal Damage / Vandalism
2. Graffiti
3. Drunken Rowdy Behaviour.

At a meeting of the panel on Tuesday 20th March 2007, an Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan was agreed and adopted. This document is a summary of the authorised plan.

The plan consists of some twenty actions or interventions designed to impact upon Anti-Social Behaviour. These actions have been decided upon in response to an analysis of police incidents, crime data and feedback from Kenilworth residents.

The measures within are designed to combine the efforts of the Police, Warwick District Council, Warwickshire County Council and Voluntary Organisations.

Some of the measures within were adopted soon after the commencement date of the team, and appear to have had a positive impact from the outset.

Actions adopted by Kenilworth Police include a new policy of patrolling by bicycle. In doing so, the officers hope to engage young people in areas such as Abbey Fields, which were previously difficult to access.

The Police intend to monitor behaviour and give greater visibility and reassurance to residents.

Modern cycles and equipment are being obtained for this purpose. The officers are also to be equipped with cycle helmet camera equipment to record any drunken or Anti-Social Behaviour. It is anticipated that these records will provide best evidence of potential offences. Such recordings can also be played back to parents to illustrate the extent of their children’s bad behaviour.

Youths found behaving in an anti-social manner will be subject to a progressive scale of action, starting with warning letters and progressing through; home visits by the Police and the District Council Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, to a Kenilworth Police Station visit to sign an acceptable behaviour contract with the Police Sgt, and ultimately, through to a formal Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

Where such youths are found to be local school children, the relevant school will be informed and invited to include conditions in the Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.

A close liaison is to be maintained between Kenilworth School and the Safer Neighbourhood Team, with a representative of the Parent Governors and a Sixth Form student sitting on the panel.

Further measures will include; arrangements for the prompt removal of graffiti, a renewal of the town’s ‘Pubwatch’ and ‘Twenty-one’ schemes, and action from Warwickshire Trading Standards to deal with instances where alcohol is being purchased by persons under eighteen.

It should be stressed that the Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhoods Team did not and does not seek to demonise any section of the town’s population, rather to change public perception of the behaviour of some young people by working positively and energetically with them.

To this end – a new Youth Centre is about to open in the town, with superb new facilities. Excellent new activity programmes should offer something for all young people.

The evenings and hours are to be extended to 9.30 pm on four nights a week.

The District Council is also to fund some weekend opportunities for groups of young people to go on trips to out of town facilities, such as tenpin bowling and ice-skating.

David Gill
Community Safety Manager (South)
Community Protection
Warwickshire County Council

The full, approved action plan can be viewed, along with this summary below:

Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhood Team Action Plan Summary

Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhoods Area Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan