Authorities Team Up To Help Tackle Criminal and Anti-Social Actvity

East Suffolk Council officers have taken to the streets of Lowestoft alongside partner agencies to identify and address criminal and anti-social activity.

Officers from the Council’s Licensing, Environmental Protection and Communities teams were joined for the multi-agency exercise by counterparts from Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and Suffolk County Council’s Trading Standards department.

Organised by the East Suffolk Community Safety Partnership (ESCSP), the one-day impact event also involved the Council’s Waste team and East Suffolk Services.

Partner agencies conducted a series of checks and inspections in retail and residential areas around Lowestoft High Street and Denmark Road, with the aim of at strengthening community safety through collective activity.

Trading Standards and Licensing officers carried out inspections and tax compliance checks on a number of premises, while police provided a visible presence on foot patrol and were accompanied by a specialist modern slavery advisor.

Environment Protection officers looked out for abandoned vehicles and fly-tipping, as well as conducting health spot-checks on food venues, while the fire service provided support with residential safety checks.

Nicole Rickard, East Suffolk Council’s Head of Communities and Leisure, said: “Working together with partner agencies on this type of focused impact days means we can achieve immediate, meaningful results and provide a visible presence in our communities.

“It also helps us build closer working relationships with partners and strengthen our efforts to safeguard the district.

“The overwhelming majority of residents and businesses live and work within the law, but we are prepared to take proportionate action where we find rules being broken.”

Among the results achieved during the impact event in Lowestoft were, so far:

• One prohibition notice and one Notice of Deficiencies issued by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Services’ Protection Department

• One seizure of illicit tobacco by Trading Standards

• A series of suspected abandoned cars identified, with enquiries continuing

• 13 fly-tipping sites identified and clean-ups planned

• Intelligence obtained and enquiries continuing around a number of matters, including an unregistered house in multiple occupation (HMO)

• Community engagement to understand local concerns and issues, and to discuss with relevant partners

Inspector Mark Jackson, from Lowestoft police, said: “On this occasion police were happy to support the other agencies who were taking the lead in this coordinated partnership work that reaps great results for the community.”

To report anti-social behaviour, call 101, use the police online reporting form or visit the anti-social behaviour section of the East Suffolk Council website.

To report a crime anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Dial 999 in an emergency or to report a crime in progress, or call 101 if the matter is not an emergency or visit the Suffolk police website.