New team to tackle antisocial behaviour in city

A new initiative, thought to be one of the first in the country, has been launched to tackle antisocial behaviour "from start to finish".

Gloucester City Council has allocated £200,000 for the two-year scheme, which will involve finding long-term accommodation for homeless people by employing two new engagement officers.

The council hopes to "take ownership" of antisocial behaviour in the city and "see [individuals] through the whole journey", said Josh Griffiths, one of the new officers.

Councillor Rebecca Trimnell said the initiative had been created over concerns from residents regarding antisocial behaviour, such as swearing and shouting, but also the welfare of vulnerable people.

"We've got lots of different agencies that do a fantastic job with these individuals," Mr Griffiths said.

"When you go out and talk to these people, there is a story, there is a person behind that and you can see they don't want to be in that situation.

"We want to give [them] that constant individual to see them through the whole journey."

The initiative is in line with one of the objectives in Gloucester City Council's new corporate plan to ensure people feel safe in the city centre and antisocial behaviour and crime are dealt with appropriately.

Emily Bolland, the council's community safety lead, said the new engagement officers will be a "consistent resource".

"We know the issues we're seeing are rooted in drinking, drugs and trauma people have had in the past," she said.

"And we know that those issues can't be dealt with if we just engage with people sporadically, and they can't only be dealt with through enforcement.

"The new officers are here to engage on a very person-centred basis to try and change those behaviours."

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