Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) has strengthened its commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the borough by renewing the Anti-Social Behaviour Pledge at the latest Crime and Disorder Committee.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Pledge is advocated by charity ASB Help to support and promote the victim’s voice in respect of the ASB Case Review process. This is the process in which victims of ASB can request a multi-agency review of their case.

EEBC first made the pledge in 2022, and it is one of many initiatives the council and its strategic partners in the Community Safety Partnership have implemented to combat anti-social behaviour.

Another initiative the committee was updated on is Safer Epsom & Ewell, a multi-agency approach to addressing serious organised crime and anti-social behaviour in the borough.

Last year, Surrey Police made a significant number of arrests linked to serious organised crime and county lines, laying the groundwork for the council and its partners to facilitate initiatives aimed at rebuilding a safer environment for residents and businesses.

The latest update on this phase of Safer Epsom & Ewell, included news on funding from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for two initiatives:

• New Era Academy Training (NEAT), a charity based at Court Recreation Ground that supports young people through sport, mentoring, education, and community programmes, to enable a further 12 months of activity
• Pending final agreement, the partnership will work with Engage Lime, an organisation which operate programmes to develop skills in younger people, to promote positive behaviour change and build better futures.

Councillor Alan Williamson, Chair of Crime and Disorder Committee, said:

“Anti-social behaviour is a scourge on society and affects everyone: victims, residents and perpetrators. I hope, by renewing the Anti-Social Behaviour Pledge and through our continued partnership activities as part of Safer Epsom & Ewell, we will build a safer environment for our residents, visitors and business owners.

“To residents and victims of anti-social behaviour, I would like to say that there is no one-fix solution to addressing this problem. By working with partners, we are not just addressing the existing issue of anti-social behaviour but also the causes of it.

“To the perpetrators, I would like to say that we and our partners are united in our aim of stopping organised crime and anti-social behaviour.”