Your Town Your Choice

Throughout the country, night-time disorder and anti-social behaviour causes concern to well behaved members of the public visiting towns for a night out. It also affects the quality of life for residents.

In a move to challenge what is considered the acceptable norm of night-time antics in Leamington, police are taking the lead in trying to raise the level of social responsibility and to encourage non acceptance of anti-social behaviour and violence.

Your Town, Your Choice is a community initiative to raise awareness of the consequences of anti-social behaviour and violent crime and to address the problem at the root cause.

The campaign starts this weekend. An enhanced policing operation will be carried out in the town, with police working alongside officers from other local agencies, actively seeking to engage with the public, encouraging debate and demonstrating to the small minority of those who cause trouble and behave badly that it will not be tolerated.

Police expect:

• no drinking in the streets,
• no drunken behaviour,
• sensible levels of noise,
• no urinating outside,
• no swearing,
• no aggression,
• no litter,
• no drug taking,
• no fighting,
• no disorder and
• no underage drinking.

Speaking about the campaign, District Commander Chief Inspector Martin McNevin said: "Although problems in Leamington may be small in comparison to other areas nationally, there have been a number of serious violent incidents since April 1 and continued incidents of anti-social behaviour. This is unacceptable. We must endeavour to change the mindset of these people to help residents and visitors enjoy a pleasant town in which to live, work and have fun. It is also important to underline to those misbehaving and committing violence, that their behaviour could impact long term on themselves. Their future could be marked by a criminal record and long term health problems."

As a focal point to the campaign, a triage centre will be operating in Warwick Street between Bedford Street and The Parade on Friday and Saturday night. A mobile police station, an ambulance and a fire service information vehicle will be present and will be the base for promoting public education messages for personal safety, the dangers of binge drinking and drugs and alcohol intervention.

Anyone who would like to know the level of alcohol in their blood can visit the triage centre to use the intoximeter. Police officers, a nurse and fire officers will use the centre as a first responder area and a base for officers to explain drug and alcohol intervention measures.

In support of the campaign, an enhanced and targeted policing operation will be carried out:

• a high visibility beat presence
• teams of police officers based in police vans, targeting anti-social behaviour and acting as rapid response to any incidents
• drug search teams will work alongside passive drugs dogs targeting specific areas in the town. Any person whom a dog indicates may have been in contact with drugs, will be searched in accordance with the Force stop and search policy. Any area found to indicate the presence of drugs will be fully searched
• extra Warwick District cctv operators will be working in support of police work
• Bedford Street will be closed at discretion of police. If the road is closed, only taxis will be allowed to use Bedford St
• multi agency visits to licensed premises - Fire officers, licensing officers, crime prevention officers

Anyone arrested for drug or drink offences will be offered support under drug or alcohol support schemes. Health workers will be based within the Leamington custody suite.

During the day, a team of police community support officers will canvas the views of the public, distributing leaflets explaning Your Town Your Choice and the concept of social responsibility.