Anti-social gripes soar to 10 a day across Cannock Chase
Anti-social behaviour has rocketed in Cannock Chase with an average of 10 incidents a day.
Complaints logged as rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour, neighbour disputes and drugs misuse in particular rose during April.
In total there were 300 ASB incidents in the month. The number has consistently increased since December when there were 184 reports.
The last time the district topped 300 incidents was in July 2016 with 306.
Police have stated that Rugeley is baring the brunt of the problems with youths displaced because of the flood protection work.
They have also pointed to the Easter school break as well as the odd spells of warm weather as being behind the spike.
Reports of rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour have nearly doubled since December rising from 117 incidents in that month to 203 in April.
While neighbour disputes have been on the rise since January increasing from 21 incidents to 43.
Additionally the 12 cases of drugs and substance misuse in April was the most recorded in a single month in the last two years.
Duncan Rollo, vulnerability hub and partnership manager at Cannock police station said: “A significant number of rowdy and inconsiderate incidents occurred between 8 and 24 of April - the school break.
“This would account for the rise in ASB of this classification, I believe we experienced a similar spike at the same time last year.
“The issues are district wide, but Rugeley does seem to feature quite strongly, the closure of the Hagley fields while the Environment Agency carry out their flood work has displaced large groups of young people back into the town leading to an increase in calls from businesses and residents.
“Our response to this has now created further displacement with the majority of these young people appearing in Brereton and Ravenhill park.
“We have instigated Operation Athena. This is a multi-agency response built on engagement with police, specials, detached youth workers and PCSO’s.
“The aim being to divert the young people to positive activities commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioner funding”
Regarding neighbour disputes he said: “They traditionally rise as the weather begins to improve; outdoor living, open windows, increased calls about noise. We have a variety of options to address this difficult problem.”
