A Harrogate campaigner is calling for key organisations to work more closely together to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour and the issues that lie behind it.
Bilton Grange and Coppice Valley Green Party campaigner Tamsin Worrall and North Yorkshire Councillor Mike Schofield have written to members of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee and Harrogate Town Council proposing a multi-agency roundtable.
The suggestion follows recent police activity in Bilton and concerns raised by residents about antisocial behaviour and suspected drug-related crime.
Rather than focusing on individual incidents, the proposal calls for organisations including North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Council, Harrogate Town Council, housing providers, safeguarding services, public health, mental health services and drug and alcohol support services to come together to discuss the wider issues.
The aim would be to share learning, strengthen partnership working and explore whether more can be done to tackle both the immediate impact and underlying causes of persistent antisocial behaviour.
Councillor Mike Schofield said:
"Residents are telling us they feel that antisocial behaviour in some areas is stuck on repeat. We deal with one incident, then another one pops up.
"I know there's already a great deal of good work going on, and the police and many different agencies are already working hard on these issues. This isn't about suggesting otherwise.
"But what I'd like us to consider is whether there would be value in taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture together. Every organisation involved sees a different part of the challenge."
He added:
"Bringing those perspectives together could help us identify opportunities to strengthen what's already happening and, hopefully, make an even bigger difference for residents.
"People shouldn't have to just get used to antisocial behaviour. We need to break the cycle. If we can tackle not just the immediate issues, but also the reasons why these problems keep returning, then I think it's a conversation worth having."
Tamsin Worrall said residents wanted reassurance that agencies were working together as effectively as possible.
She said:
"Residents want to feel safe in their homes and confident that when they raise concerns, they're being listened to.
"They also want reassurance that every organisation with a role to play is working as effectively as possible.
"I hope this is seen as a positive opportunity to build on the work that's already happening.
"By bringing people together, sharing experience and looking at the wider picture, we may be able to identify practical ways to support vulnerable people, strengthen our communities and help prevent the same problems from happening again."
Councillor Schofield and Ms Worrall have asked members of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee and Harrogate Town Council to support the proposal.
If backed, they intend to ask the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, in their role as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, to consider convening a multi-agency roundtable involving organisations responsible for community safety, housing, safeguarding, public health and support services.
The proposed meeting would aim to reflect on lessons from recent events in Bilton, identify opportunities to strengthen partnership working and explore ways to build on the work already taking place to address persistent antisocial behaviour and drug-related crime.
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