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Charities are worried that many people are no longer reporting incidents of antisocial behaviour, as Suffolk records the lowest number of reported offences since records began in 2007.
The big picture: Suffolk has seen a significant drop in reported anti-social behaviour incidents, but charities warn this may not reflect reality:
Reported incidents fell to 6,554 in the year to March, down 16% from the previous year.
This equates to 9 incidents per 1,000 people in Suffolk.
The figure is 37% lower than in 2020-21, which saw a spike in offences nationally.
Why it matters: Victim Support suggests many people feel they won't be taken seriously when reporting anti-social behaviour, potentially masking the true scale of the problem.
Zooming out: The trend is mirrored across England and Wales, with reported incidents falling to just above 1 million - the lowest figure since 2007-08.
What they're saying:
Rachel Almeida, Victim Support: "While reports to the police of anti-social behaviour have gone down, sadly these incidents remain a common reality for many. Every year, one in three people will experience or witness some type of anti-social behaviour."
Almeida adds: "We know from our experience that many victims feel that they aren't taken seriously, or worry that no action will be taken when they report."
Government response: The Home Office says, "Crime survey data shows a growing concern around anti-social behaviour amongst communities" and that it's committed to tackling the issue by delivering extra neighbourhood police and community support officers and introducing tougher powers to tackle repeat offending.
Yes, but: The Manifesto Club, a civil liberties group, warns against introducing "even more draconian and unchecked powers" to combat anti-social behaviour.
Its director, Josie Appleton, said: "In our experience, anti-social behaviour statistics include a great variety of incidents, with police logs including everything from buskers to begging to drug use."
The bottom line: While reported incidents in Suffolk are down, charities argue that more needs to be done to support victims and encourage the reporting of anti-social behaviour.
Sources
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