18/08/2026

Working together for safer communities

As the school summer holidays begin and our neighbourhoods become busier, our Safe Communities teams continue to work with customers, local authorities, police and support organisations to help keep communities safe.

While we recognised ASB Awareness Week last month, tackling anti-social behaviour is a year-round effort. Here are just a few examples of how colleagues have been working with partners and customers to make a difference across our communities.

Working with partner agencies

We’ve worked with multiple agencies to tackle drug-related issues involving eight perpetrator households and 14 victims in Cambridge. As a result of this we've installed more robust car park barriers, CCTV and improved lighting, as well as obtained police warrants, closure orders and possession claims in some cases.These actions have helped increase feelings of safety within the community.

The work has also supported a vulnerable perpetrator to begin resettlement through a local night shelter, demonstrating the importance of balancing enforcement with support.

Supporting customers and communities

Following a serious knife crime incident involving multiple young people, we've been working with the police to better understand gang-related risks within Norwich.

Community surveys are helping to build a clearer picture of local concerns and how our Housing teams can help and ensure support is available for any customers who may be affected.

Strengthening domestic abuse support

We brought together housing and support providers in Suffolk to make it easier for people to get help from Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) services. This was in response to long waiting times and changes to local services. The aim was to make referral processes clearer and reduce delays for people needing support, and a similar approach is planned for Norfolk.

The team continues to support survivor coffee groups across Norfolk and Suffolk, providing opportunities for customers to connect with others who have had similar experiences and access support in a safe environment.

Prevention work addressing local concerns

Prevention remains a key part of tackling anti-social behaviour. In Thetford, we've worked in partnership to ensure we're addressing local concerns. This has included:

•    joint visits with Safer Street Wardens
•    a Public Space Protection Order prohibiting vehicle nuisance
•    increased CCTV coverage
•    surveys and follow-up engagement with customers

We received more than 600 responses to the customer survey, helping shape future action and giving customers a direct voice in improving their neighbourhood.

Working together

These examples show the real impact our Safe Communities teams and partners have when we work together around customers and communities. 

Whether it’s early intervention, prevention, support or taking enforcement action where it’s needed, the focus is always on listening to customers, responding to concerns and helping people feel safe in their homes and communities. 

 

“Summer is often when our communities are at their busiest, with more people out and about enjoying the weather and customers spending more time out in shared spaces" said Jenna, Safe Communities Officer.

"Sometimes this can bring anti-social behaviour concerns to the surface, which is why early intervention, prevention and partnership working are so important. By listening to our customers and working with our partners, we can respond in the right way and help people to feel safe where they live.”

Find out more

Tackling ASB is rarely the work of one team alone. Success depends on strong partnerships, customer engagement and colleagues working together to support safer communities. 

We know anti-social behaviour can have a significant impact on our customers and communities, and we need you to help us tackle this by reporting any concerns. To find out more about the types of ASB and how to get in touch with us, take a look at our website page and toolkit below.

Alice, Safe Communities Officer, at Wickham Market Library with East Suffolk Council and the police promoting ASB Awareness Week last month.