The rise in anti-social behaviour in 2024 was having a real impact on how people in Corby felt about the place they lived.
Corby Neighbourhood Policing Team didn’t have all the answers but when they launched Operation Alien the difference was clear to see.
Northamptonshire Police were inundated with reports involving young people causing concern in the community.
So, the Team pulled together to clamp down on harmful behaviour, drawing together partners together from across Corby.
Work included days of action, hot spot patrols of the town with extra Police at evenings and weekends, regular patrols with council wardens, and meetings with businesses and security staff to understand issues helped to build back trust and public confidence.
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone’s youth teams also worked with families to tackle poor behaviour and held outreach days in the town.
By sharing information quickly and taking a joined‑up approach, Operation Alien identified ringleaders of the group.
If positive action couldn’t be taken, arrests and civil orders were made, which indicated a reduction in youth-related anti-social behaviour.
It’s this work that earned them Team of the Year at the Force’s own Excellence in Policing Awards.
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Corby Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Matt Rock (pictured) is making sure this positive work continues.
He said: “The Team has done a lot of work in being visible in the town centre. We’ve set up a local group with businesses where we discuss ongoing issues to try and solve problems and get to the root cause of it.
“We’ve seen a big change in the levels of anti-social behaviour in the town centre and through the last year we’ve worked tirelessly with partners, schools and OPFCC youth workers to get some of the young people in the right places and prevent them coming into town causing trouble with residents and businesses.
“We can’t work alone, and not all issues are policing issues, but in terms of prevention for the future it’s key we maintain positive partnerships with our local services to continue to find effective ways to tackle ASB and support residents.”
Danielle’s office has since launched the targeted ASB Early Intervention Team whose youth workers are believed to be one of the first teams in the country working directly alongside frontline police officers to provide specialist support to children aged 10-17.
Danielle added: “Keeping the public safe is a team game and Police can’t work in isolation.
“We need great partnerships and strong systems like what my youth team and Corby Neighbourhood Policing Team has achieved to deliver change with the full range of bodies who can impact public safety.
“When we put collaboration at the heart of what we do, we can tackle our shared challenges and reduce the risk of communities being harmed.”
Councillor Brian Benneyworth, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Housing, Health and Leisure, said: “Anti-social behaviour of any kind in our communities is simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“I celebrate this great work which is a fine example of residents, the police and our local partners working together to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“We are all striving to completely stamp it out and it is imperative that we continue to come together to do so.”
