Burn Valley

Tackling Drug Dealing, Substance Misuse and Associated Violence

Drug dealing and substance misuse continue to be significant concerns raised by residents and professionals across the ward. Particular concerns include drug-related activity occurring near educational settings and the continued link between substance misuse, violence, and disorder associated with the night-time economy. These issues have a direct impact on community safety, public confidence, health and wellbeing, and can expose vulnerable individuals, particularly young people, to exploitation and criminal activity.
Our priority is to tackle both the supply and use of controlled drugs through a combination of enforcement, prevention, safeguarding, and partnership working. We remain committed to targeting those individuals and organised groups responsible for causing the greatest harm within our communities, while ensuring appropriate support is available for those affected by substance misuse and exploitation.
Drug dealing in and around schools, colleges, and areas frequented by young people remains a key concern. We will continue to work closely with schools, youth services, safeguarding partners, licensed premise managers and local communities to identify risks, share intelligence, and take action against those who seek to exploit others for criminal gain.
Proactive policing continues to play an important role in addressing drug-related crime. Many recent arrests have resulted from officers conducting intelligence-led patrols and identifying controlled substances during routine police activity. These actions help disrupt local drug networks, remove harmful substances from circulation, and provide valuable intelligence on organised criminality operating within the area.
We also recognise the strong link between substance misuse and violence associated with the night-time economy. Working alongside licensed premises, local authority teams, health services, and community safety partners, we will continue to target locations and individuals contributing to alcohol and drug-related violence, anti-social behaviour, and public disorder. Through enforcement, engagement, and preventative measures, we aim to create a safer environment for residents, visitors, and businesses.
Education and early intervention remain central to our approach. By working with schools, youth groups, and community organisations, we will continue to raise awareness of the dangers of drug and substance misuse, including the health risks, criminal consequences, and potential for exploitation.
Through strong partnership working, proactive enforcement, prevention, and education, we will continue to reduce drug-related harm, protect vulnerable people, and create safer communities across the ward.

Tackling the Anti-Social Use of Vehicles

The anti-social use of vehicles continues to be a concern raised by residents across the ward during community engagement events, resident meetings, and routine neighbourhood policing activity. Issues such as excessive speeding, dangerous driving, loud exhausts, nuisance motorcycle use, vehicles gathering in public spaces, and inconsiderate driving can have a significant impact on the quality of life of local communities. These behaviours not only cause annoyance and distress to residents but can also create genuine safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users.
In response to these concerns, we remain committed to proactively tackling the anti-social use of vehicles through a combination of enforcement, education, and partnership working. We continue to work closely with local communities through Community Speedwatch initiatives, which enable residents to play an active role in identifying speeding concerns and highlighting areas where enforcement and intervention are required. Information gathered through these schemes helps direct policing resources to locations where they can have the greatest impact.
Working alongside colleagues from the Road Safety Team and Matrix officers, we have undertaken targeted operations aimed at identifying vehicles and individuals responsible for causing nuisance and danger within the ward. These operations focus on known hotspot locations and use intelligence gathered from residents and partner agencies. Where offences are identified, appropriate enforcement action is taken, including warnings, fixed penalty notices, vehicle seizures, and prosecutions where necessary. At the same time, officers seek to educate drivers about the consequences of their actions and encourage safer and more responsible road use.
Prevention and early intervention also form an important part of our approach. Police officers continue to engage with schools, colleges, and other educational establishments to deliver road safety messages and raise awareness among young people about the dangers and consequences of anti-social vehicle use. By promoting responsible behaviour at an early age, we aim to reduce future offending and improve road safety across the ward.
Through continued enforcement, community engagement, education, and partnership working, we will work to reduce the anti-social use of vehicles, improve road safety, and ensure residents feel safe and confident within their neighbourhoods.

Reducing Anti-Social Behaviour and Improving Community Safety

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) continues to be a significant concern for residents, businesses, and partner agencies across the ward, particularly within the Church Street and Church Square areas. These locations remain important community and commercial hubs but continue to experience issues such as nuisance behaviour, public disorder, street drinking, and incidents linked to the night-time economy. Such behaviour can negatively impact public confidence, deter people from visiting the area, and affect the quality of life of those who live and work nearby.
Residents and businesses have also identified begging and aggressive begging as ongoing concerns within the town centre. While we recognise that some individuals involved may be vulnerable and require support, aggressive begging can cause fear, intimidation, and distress to members of the public. Working closely with local authority teams, housing providers, outreach services, and other partners, the police will continue to proactively address these issues through engagement, safeguarding, support, and enforcement where appropriate. Our aim is to ensure that vulnerable individuals are directed towards the help available while also addressing behaviours that negatively affect the wider community.
Our priority is to reduce the impact of ASB through increased visibility, engagement, proactive policing, and strong partnership working. We recognise that residents want to see a regular and reassuring presence in their communities, and we are committed to delivering targeted patrols in identified hotspot locations. High-visibility policing and engagement activity will focus on addressing community concerns, gathering intelligence, deterring offending behaviour, and providing reassurance to the public.
The Church Street and Church Square areas continue to attract high footfall during both daytime and evening periods, with some ASB linked to individuals involved in the night-time economy. Alcohol-related disorder, nuisance behaviour, aggressive behaviour, and incidents of violence can have a significant impact on businesses, visitors, and residents. Working alongside licensed premises, local authority teams, security providers, and other partner agencies, we will continue to identify and address those individuals and locations responsible for causing the greatest levels of harm. Through targeted operations and problem-solving initiatives, we aim to create a safer and more welcoming environment for everyone.
Prevention and early intervention remain central to our approach. We will continue to work closely with local schools, education providers, youth services, housing partners, and community organisations to engage with young people and vulnerable individuals who may be involved in, or affected by, anti-social behaviour. By addressing the underlying causes of ASB and providing support, guidance, and positive opportunities, we can help prevent issues from escalating and reduce repeat incidents.
Where necessary, robust enforcement action will be taken against persistent offenders. We will continue to utilise the full range of available powers, including Community Protection Notices, Criminal Behaviour Orders, and tenancy enforcement measures where appropriate, to protect communities and reduce harm.
Through increased visibility, proactive policing, community engagement, early intervention, and effective partnership working, we will continue to tackle anti-social behaviour, address concerns around begging and aggressive begging, support vulnerable individuals, and improve safety across the ward. Our aim is to ensure that Church Street, Church Square, and the wider community remain safe, welcoming places where residents, visitors, and businesses can thrive.