The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is asking for residents’ views on anti-social behaviour in Surrey.

It comes as the county’s partnership including her office, Surrey Police, Surrey County Council, housing providers and various support charities look to boost the service that is provided when residents report an issue or need help.

Getting tough on anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a key part of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, that outlines the priorities for Surrey Police.

Have your say now: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GQZJN3/

ASB takes many forms, ranging from rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour to antisocial driving and criminal damage. It can significantly increase the risk to an individual’s health and is often connected with the bigger picture of community safety.

But reducing anti-social behaviour is complex and requires coordinated support from partners in areas such as housing, care, and mental health as well as policing.

The survey is an important way of making sure residents’ views remain at the heart of the work of the partnership and capture a fresh picture of the problems that communities in Surrey are facing in 2023.

Charity ASB help are supporting the launch of the survey and will be working with the Commissioner’s office and Surrey Police to analyse the feedback in the spring. The results of the survey and focus groups will then help the partnership to improve services and raise awareness of the different routes for reporting ASB and the support that is available.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said it was a topic that is regularly raised by residents in Surrey, but that ASB could not be ‘solved’ by police alone.

She said: “Anti-social behaviour is often described as a ‘low level’ crime but I don’t agree – it can have a lasting and devastating impact on people’s lives.

“I regularly hear from residents affected by ASB and they often feel there is no escape. It is happening where they are and may repeat weekly or even daily.

“Making sure our communities feel safe is a key part of my Police and Crime Plan for Surrey and I’m proud that we have a strong partnership tackling ASB in Surrey. 

“There is more to do. Your views are really important for us to be able to raise more awareness of the ways you can report different problems and access help.”

The online survey will run until Friday, 31 March.

Anyone affected by ASB in Surrey can find out which agency to contact for different problems at healthysurrey.org.uk/community-safety/asb/who-deals-with-it

Support is available if you experience persistent ASB in Surrey. Visit the Mediation Surrey website for more information about mediation and coaching, or visit the Community Trigger page to find out what to do if you have reported the same problem on multiple occasions but are not satisfied with the actions taken to resolve it.