Burnham-On-Sea residents can now quickly report anti-social behaviour in the town following the launch of a brand new hotline.
The Anti-Social Behaviour hotline is being launched across Sedgemoor by the district council and can be reached on 0800 585 360 around the clock.
Out-of-office hours calls will be handled by Sedgemoor District Council’s CCTV control room. Callers to the number will be given a list of types of anti-social behaviour to identify (as shown in the list at the bottom of this page) and then give details of the incident.
“In the past it has been quite usual for a report of anti-social behaviour to need several organisations to sort out the problem whether they be the Police, Fire service, Environmental Health or youth services. Dialling this one number means that we can liaise between the partners and address the problems quickly and efficiently,” said council spokesperson Claire Faun.
Each incident will also be added to the Anti-Social behaviour database that helps in tackling crime and the fear of crime by mapping hot spots, so that agencies can re-direct resources into areas that are identified as having a specific problem.
Partners in the Safer Sedgemoor Partnership, which is overseeing the hotline, are Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Avon & Somerset Police Authority, Bridgwater College, Bridgwater Town Centre Partnership, Bridgwater YMCA, Citizens Advice Bureau, Connexions Somerset, Government Officer for the South West, National Probation Service, Neighbourhood Watch, Somerset coast PCT, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset County Council, Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Somerset Gay Health, Somerset Racial Equality Council, Victim Support and the Youth Offending Team.
Claire Faun added that the cost of launching the service is “negligible” because it “simply makes better use of the technology that we already have in place.” She added: “There’s actually very little new technology which we’ve needed to buy here.”
.Types of anti-social behaviour to report to the hotline
Burnham-On-Sea residents can call the hotline 0800 585 360 to report the following activities:
Aggressive Begging
Arson – car
Arson – dwelling
Arson – other
Begging
Criminal damage – other
Criminal damage to car
Criminal damage to dwelling
Domestic noise – music
Domestic noise – other
Drug Dealing
Fly tipping
Graffiti – dwelling
Graffiti – other
Graffiti – public property
Homophobic incident
Joyriding
Kerb crawling
Other nuisance
Prostitution
Racing Cars
Racist abuse – other
Racist abuse – verbal
Racist incident
Substance abuse – drugs
Substance abuse – other
Under age drinking
Under age smoking
Vehicle crime (theft from motor vehicle)
Vehicle crime (theft of motor vehicle)
The new hotline does not replace any police number and if in case of danger or emergency, the usual 999 number should be used.
