BEAT bobbies will tackle antisocial behaviour in St Peter Port this weekend. A new operation will see a team of officers patrolling Valnord, Clairval, Mahaut Gardens and Courtil Bris estates to try and cut the number of crimes associated with antisocial behaviour. Police spent yesterday speaking to residents about the operation and asking them for their views on the state of the areas.

‘We are trying to engage with the public,’ said community officer PC Chris Shuter.

‘We want to listen to them and try to understand what their concerns are. The people in the relevant areas often have really good ideas about how to make the community safer. We hope we can reassure people with our presence.’

Officers will be on the beat from 6pm until 3am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to increased crime in the estates.

‘There has been a rise in antisocial behaviour and we will be targeting that,’ said PC Shuter.

‘In general, it is teenagers who are committing the antisocial behaviour, but we do not want to criminalise the entire teenage population.

‘We want to engage with the teenagers who live in this area, get to know them and have them get to know us. We also want to hear about their concerns.’

Operation Carousel is a multi-agency initiative that will involve departments such as Housing and Environment and States Works.

‘The reason we are taking a multi-agency approach is because when we speak to residents, some of their concerns might be related to other areas other than crime. Antisocial behaviour is not something that can be dealt with by the police alone. It has to be multi-agency so that if we see a problem that the Housing Department could help with, we can go to them.’

PC Shuter said the reaction from residents had been very positive.

‘They are pleased to see officers on foot in the area. Everyone seems pleased that we are here and I think people feel reassured by our presence.

‘Our presence is a preventative measure. However, we will obviously take a zero-tolerance approach to anything we see while we are patrolling the area.’

At the end of the operation, residents will be sent a letter and questionnaire asking them for their opinions about the increased police presence.

‘We are seeking to develop our community policing ethos. We want to get the message across to the public that we see community policing as the best way forward to deal with the developing trends of antisocial behaviour.’

Vandalism and graffiti are the most common crimes committed on the estates and residents are backing the initiative.

Keith Parkyn, 64, said an increased presence was good.

‘It’s nice to see coppers back on the beat because it is the way it always used to be. I don’t think the area is too bad at this time of year because it’s so cold, but it’s in the summer that we need to have a police presence. Having a presence is the best way to get co-operation.’