A new online tool has been launched in partnership with Durham Constabulary, Livin and Durham County Council to help victims of anti-social behaviour in Aycliffe access support to resolve the issue.
The web resource has been developed by Aycliffe IT and training firm Optimum Skills and provides everything residents and businesses in the town need to know to report anti-social behaviour (ASB) and receive the help they need.
The County Durham and Darlington PCC has prioritised ASB since first being elected in 2021 and has vowed to continue taking a hardline approach to the issue over her next four years in office, exploring further opportunities to boost support for victims.
The new tool follows the launch of ‘Act Now!’ – a countywide interactive resource that guides people through a series of questions to explain who they should contact to report the ASB they are experiencing.
The Aycliffe resource will also provide a direct route of support specific to the town while also updating residents on work underway to improve their safety.
Launching the new facility, Commissioner Allen said: “Anti-social behaviour is not a low-level problem, it destroys community life and can have a damaging impact on confidence and mental health.
“People consistently tell me ASB remains their number one priority, and I have listened. This new tool will direct victims of ASB to the most appropriate agency to report their problem, ensuring they receive support at the earliest opportunity.
“Nobody should feel like they are fighting this issue on their own. The longer ASB continues, the worse the impact on mental wellbeing which is why it is vital we eliminate any confusion on how people can report or access the help they deserve.”
Andrew Boyd, neighbourhood policing team sergeant for Newton Aycliffe, who has been instrumental in the development of the padlet, said: “Aycliffe ImPACT has been created to call all partners together to problem solve collectively around community issues when a spike in ASB is noted.
“We’ve got a commitment from all partners to revisit hotspot areas in the town more rapidly and put measures in place to reduce the problem, making it safer for our residents.
“The community will also be able to use a QR code to find out where they should report differing types of ASB and find more information on the teams covering their area.”