Thematic Newsletter July 2025

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire sent this bulletin at 16-07-2025 10:29 AM BST

Supporting our communities to become stronger and more resilient to Anti-Social Behaviour

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is something that continues to blight the lives of many of those who live and work in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Residents and businesses I speak to often tell me about their personal experiences of the distress it can cause and others fear becoming a victim.

As a former police officer, I understand the detrimental effect this issue has on communities and this is why Tacking Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour is a key priority in my new Police and Crime Plan.

Fortunately, our Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are working tirelessly to tackle the nuisances that can harm our way of life and are delivering outstanding results. Each CSP in our county benefits from a Problem-Solving Coordinator, funded by my office, who works with the police and a variety of local partners to proactively resolve issues and to prevent incidents from happening in the first place.

Following on from June’s national Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, this newsletter brings you up to speed with the progress being made by our CSPs in each of their areas to prevent problems from manifesting and to increase confidence so our communities – and visitors - can enjoy all the wonderful things our county has to offer.

Additionally, the Constabulary recently announced significant progress in increasing police visibility and communication, putting community safety and local accountability at the forefront of policing efforts.

Residents in every neighbourhood now have a named police officer dedicated to their area. These officers serve as the first point of contact for local policing matters and are committed to building lasting relationships with residents and community groups.

You can find details of your named officer and how to get in touch on the Constabulary’s website.

As the summer continues, police officers and partners will continue to tackle ASB – keeping our streets safe over the warmer months and throughout the year.

Please don’t suffer in silence. If you are a victim or witness of ASB, specialist help is available, regardless of whether you have reported your experience or not. To find out more click here.

Darryl Preston

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner

Fenland CSP

Community intelligence is vital for helping partners to identify and resolve nuisance and criminal behaviour.

Fenland’s CSP team recently took positive action after being contacted by a resident who had previously reported suspicions around drug dealing. Concerned the activity was happening again, she raised the issue, and intelligence was shared with the local Safer Neighbourhood Team and intelligence officers.

Within 24-hours, NPT officers patrolled the location and stopped and searched a suspicious vehicle, which was found to contain suspected Class A drugs and mobile phones. The car was seized as the driver had no licence or insurance, and the resident was updated on the incident and offered reassurance.

For more information about the CSP’s work visit: Community Safety Partnership (CSP) - Fenland District Council

Peterborough CSP

Every year, deliberate fires put people’s lives at risk and draw crucial resources away from other emergencies.

Peterborough CSP has been working proactively with allotment holders, Police, Fire, contractors and the PCC to tackle multiple incidents of arson and criminal damage at council owned and community-run allotment gardens in the area.

Data on recent and historic fire investigations was shared with partners to identify patterns of behaviour. Following multi-agency meetings with residents and allotment holders, fire safety and security recommendations were made by the fire service and implemented to ‘design out’ crime while high-visibility patrols and ongoing monitoring between partners was rolled out.

As a result of this positive action, incidents of arson and criminal damage have ceased, and partners continue to monitor the situation to ensure recommendations are being followed.

For more information about the CSP’s work visit: About the Safer Peterborough Partnership | Peterborough City Council

Cambridge City CSP

ASB often overlaps criminal and civil laws with officers able to draw on several powers in their response.

CSP officers in Cambridge City have been jointly solving several types of problems from drug dealing, drug use and noise nuisance to unregistered dog breeds and cuckooing. Cuckooing is a type of exploitation where a victim is intimidated, manipulated and threatened into having their home used by criminals as a base for illegal activities - typically as part of a common method of drug supply known as county lines.

Several interventions have been implemented to reassure communities and protect affected residents. These include door knocking and letter drops to householders, intelligence sharing with police on suspected drug activity and cuckooing, the installation of de-deployable CCTV, welfare visits to vulnerable tenants, the installation of noise recording equipment and the seizure of an un-registered dog.

The interventions have improved tenants’ safety and have reduced the impact of problems on the wider community.

For more information about the CSP’s work visit: Cambridge Community Safety Partnership: Working together to keep Cambridge safe - Cambridge City Council

Huntingdonshire CSP

Rural ASB has a profound impact on communities, threatening local livelihoods and economic prosperity in the countryside.

Huntingdonshire District Council has been working in collaboration with Cambridgeshire Constabulary and St Neots Town Council to proactively address ASB in the St Neots Love’s Farm area. This has seen joint proactive visits to the area to speak with residents, school visits, and engagement at local peer group meetings.

Huntingdonshire District Council continues to work with the force to monitor and enforce the Public Space Protection Order (PSPC) in Great Whyte, Ramsey, and is working with the County Council and Police to tackle areas at risk of child criminal exploitation. Partners are seeking further activities to divert young people away from crime during the summer months.

For more information about the CSP’s work visit: Community Safety - Huntingdonshire.gov.uk

South Cambridgeshire CSP

Anti-social driving is a serious concern for residents across the county and tackling those who use roads selfishly and recklessly is vital for keeping Cambridgeshire and Peterborough safe.

Anti-social driving and noise from vehicles at Milton Park and Ride is a long-running issue, with 65 complaints to the council or police in the last two years alone.

Working in partnership, the CSP has proposed using the District Council’s powers to implement a PSPO. The proposal, which would benefit from the county council’s on-site CCTV and enforcement from the police if granted, is out for consultation until 1st August 2025.

The PSPO would seek to prevent vehicles from gathering, speeding and racing, revving engines loudly, performing stunts, playing loud music, and using threatening or rude behaviour in the car park.

For more information about the CSP’s work visit: Community Safety Partnership - South Cambs District Council

East Cambridgeshire CSP

No single agency has the resources, expertise, or authority to tackle the diverse range of issues encompassed by ASB.

In East Cambridgeshire, experts across a range of sectors have been working collaboratively to respond to a complex and long-running case involving overcrowded housing, allegations of domestic abuse, racism, and verbal abuse and threats.

CSP officers including the Problem-Solving Lead convened partners including housing to resolve the overcrowding issue while practical help and support was given to caregivers and parents around parenting strategies and coping mechanisms. Police officers intervened to address reports of criminal behaviour and support was offered to all victims.

Demand on the agencies and services involved has now ceased.

For more information about the CSP’s work visit: Community Safety Partnership information | East Cambridgeshire District Council

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