Home Office officials heard how a summer crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Luton led to hundreds of fines and arrests.
Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard and senior officers briefed government representatives on the impact of the Safer Streets Summer programme, a Home Office-funded scheme designed to make town centres safer through extra patrols, community events and joint work with councils and local groups.
Figures shared at the meeting show that in July and August more than 300 incidents of anti-social behaviour were tackled in Luton, with over 300 fines issued. Police and council teams also logged more than 330 positive interactions with residents and businesses. One day of action saw five arrests for robbery and for possession of drugs and weapons.
Mr Tizard said the visit was “a strong show of support for the work happening in Luton,” adding that the scheme is “about listening to communities, tackling anti-social behaviour head-on, and building confidence that our town centre is a safe and vibrant place.”
Inspector Vick Sanghera of the Luton town centre policing team said the programme had brought “more patrols on the streets, greater visibility in the community, and stronger partnerships with residents and businesses,” adding that the focus on town centre safety will continue year-round.
Luton Council leader Hazel Simmons said the results show the value of partnership working, saying: “The success of the Safer Streets Summer programme in Luton shows what we can achieve by working together and underlines our ongoing commitment to a safe, welcoming and thriving town centre.”
