POLICE are stepping up their fight today against yobs who make the lives of some communities a misery.

Lancashire Police are joining a national campaign that brings together people and organisations across the county to take a stand against anti-social behaviour.

They are carrying out a week of activities to highlight their ongoing work to tackle anti-social behaviour to mark the launch of the UK’s first official ASB Awareness Week which starts today.

Officers will be out and about in their patches to let people know about the work they carry out daily around anti-social behaviour.

Working closely with their residents and councils, officers from each area will be tackling issues such as nuisance cars and motorbikes drug dealing, vandalism and fly-tipping.

Supt Richard Robertshaw said: “Anti-social behaviour is a key area of policing for Lancashire, and a real focus for our response and neighbourhood policing teams. Lancashire Constabulary work year-round tackling these kinds of issues, so it was an easy decision and an obvious choice for us to get involved in this national awareness week.”

Andrew Snowden, police and crime commissioner for Lancashire said: “Anti-social behaviour is a big problem in some communities and is something I intend to tackle head on here in Lancashire. It is a blight on communities and can ruin lives.

“Lancashire Constabulary’s involvement in this national campaign is just one way we are going to deal with these petty criminals and individuals causing nuisance.

“This campaign not only highlights how we will not stand by and let this type of behaviour go unpunished, it sends a clear message: We will get tough on those involved in anti-social behaviour and make our streets safer.

“My message to local communities and law-abiding people in Lancashire remains a simple one: I am on your side. I will drive a crackdown on criminals, making sure all of the county’s areas and communities feel protected.”

Rebecca Bryant OBE, chief executive of community safety body Resolve, said: “We need to change the way we think about ASB. It is not low-level crime. It devastates the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.”

“As the nation begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic and our society and economy celebrates the start of return to normal life, it is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs nationally and locally so that people feel safe in their homes and communities.”