Yahoo News 3,500 arrested in major Lancashire anti-social behaviour crackdown
Police in Lancashire have arrested more than 3,500 people as part of a major crackdown operation on anti-social behaviour.
Op Centurion launched in July 2023 with each district currently benefitting from extra foot patrols to target areas identified as ASB hotspots. In the past 16 months officers have completed an extra 7,291 shifts to tackle ASB in these areas, resulting in 826 civil actions and 3548 arrests, with drug dealers and offenders committing criminal damage targeted.
In April this year, Lancashire Police added an intelligence-led operation targeting anti-social driving as part of Op Centurion which has resulted in 2688 people summoned, 2344 Sec 59s, 2148 Sec 165s and 1661 Speeding Offences to date. Op Centurion is the force's county-wide response to ASB, supported by Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw.
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This week, officers will be supporting the UK’s national ASB Awareness Week and are carrying out additional activities across the county around the theme of #MakingCommunitiesSafer.
Lancashire Constabulary’s Assistant Chief Constable, Karen Edwards, said "Lancashire is supporting the national ASB Awareness week, we are keen to highlight the work our officers and staff do to listen to community concerns and tackle ASB on a daily basis. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a force priority and we have been working incredibly hard to address these issues, throughout the year and in all parts of the county.
"Anti-social behaviour has the potential to cause a significant amount of harm and distress to people. It is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it. I urge the public to not suffer in silence and to please report ASB to the relevant authority."
Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, added: "It's great to see the positive impact Op Centurion is having and I am keen to build on this, both in ASB hotspots and beyond. Offenders must know crime and ASB, even at low level, will be punished and I'm committed to supporting Lancashire Constabulary to take firm action."
Op Centurion also aims to ensure that residents know how to report ASB to the relevant authority, which isn't always the police. Lancashire Police work in partnership with other agencies such as local Councils and Housing Associations to tackle the different types of ASB appropriately.
Reporting options can be found on the dedicated web page here. Information can also be passed to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. You can also call 101 or 999 in an emergency.
