Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s anti-social behaviour team is expanding from three to four dedicated officers as it enters its second year.
The specially trained team will be patrolling across the borough, focussing on locations where incidents are most likely to occur. The high-visibility officers, wearing body cameras, will be in direct contact with Kent Police patrols and CCTV controllers. They will be cracking down on nuisance behaviour in parks and other public places, like rowdy groups, drug taking or drinking in parks and so-called ‘boy racers’ who drive dangerously at organised illegal car meets.
Last year marked the beginning of the scheme, which resulted in a 33 per cent drop in the number of reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) from 1,712 in the summer of 2023 to 1,290 in 2024 and the issue of 50 Fixed Penalty Notices.
This summer the team is committed to reducing the number even further, using their powers to confiscate drink and drugs and issue fines of up to £100 for breaches of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). These orders are in place across the borough and are designed to ensure parks and other public places can be enjoyed by everyone.
In March the ASB Enforcement Team initiative took the silver prize at the national Public Sector Transformation Awards and it’s hoped the team will continue its good work through the busy summer months.
Cllr Des Keers, cabinet lead for communities, said: “We’re proud of this initiative and it’s clear that having high visibility officers out on patrol in known hot spots is having an impact on reducing what can be very disruptive and distressing behaviour.
“With the longer evenings and fine weather, we know that reports of anti-social behaviour go up, which is why we’ve expanded the team and are working in partnership with Kent Police, Kent County Council and local communities to target some of the more persistent issues in the borough.”
The £80,000 initiative is mainly funded by the Government UK Shared Prosperity Fund, topped up by contributions from the borough and parish councils.
The officers will be deployed by Tonbridge and Malling’s Community Safety Unit, which is staffed by officers from the borough council and Kent Police.