Police will step up their patrols by almost a million hours in areas blighted by yobs, vow ministers
POLICE will step up their patrols by almost a million hours in areas blighted by yobs, ministers have vowed.
They are being handed £66million to step up their presence in communities where anti-social behaviour is rife.
A trial in ten areas has seen patrols increase by 80,000 hours.
Rolling out the target funding to all 43 forces is hoped to add 900,000 hours of bobbies’ boots on the ground.
PM Rishi Sunak said: “Anti-social behaviour destroys communities and takes away the public’s right to feel safe in the place they call home.
“We will not stop until everyone feels proud of their community.”
Ministers have set a target of smashing another 1,000 county lines drug operations by August.
It comes after claiming their aim to bust 2,000 lines by 2025 was achieved.
Crime has become a key election battleground as both Tories and Labour claim to be the party of law and order.
The PM has previously announced an anti-social behaviour action plan including harsher fines for fly-tipping, littering and graffiti.
National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for anti-social behaviour Andy Prophet said: “Tackling violence and ASB are top priorities for policing.”