Police in Abingdon have announced they will be increasing their efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour as a result of feedback from the community.

Thames Valley Police’s Abingdon Neighbourhood Team are focusing on antisocial behaviour in the town over the coming weeks, with particular focus on the hours after schools close.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We are working with schools and businesses to reduce antisocial behaviour and create a safer environment for everyone.”

District councillor for Abingdon Caldecott Neil Fawcett, welcomes the increased visibility of the police.

He said: “I have had complaints about increased antisocial behaviour in the town centre, including around the library, charter and shops.

“I very much welcome the increased visibility of the Abingdon Neighbourhood Team.”

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When asked if the school welcomes this new focus on antisocial behaviour after school hours, a spokesperson for John Mason School, in Wootton Road, said: “All of the secondary school – not independent schools – in Abingdon are involved in a Community Around the School Offer (CASO) to try and address any issues raised.

“We are working, through the CASO, to identify any students in our schools to help support them in their decision making.

“If and when any individual students are involved, we will work carefully with all parents and stakeholders to try and prevent it happening again.

“Each secondary school in the Abingdon Learning Trust has a wide ranging PSHE curriculum that focuses on a range of topics, including how to treat others.”

The Abingdon School also told this paper how it encourages its pupils not to engage in antisocial behaviour in out-of-school hours.

Senior Deputy Head of Abingdon School Graeme May said: “At Abingdon, we have a coherent PSHE programme from Year 7 right up to Year 13, part of which deals with behaviour towards others – messages that are reinforced by other events such as our chapel services and assemblies.

“Our pastoral house system also encourages good behaviour, and is a quick way to make students accountable for their behaviour, as tutors and heads of house receive behavioural concerns from teachers via our database.”

Mr May went on to say the responsibility to produce citizens who will not engage in antisocial behaviour lies with both schools and parents.

He added: “While schools can set out expectations and hold children to account, be firm and clear where the lines are, and take action if children persistently step over them, without the support of parents and other carers, our standards and actions can be easily undermined.”

Mr Will Speke, Head of Fitzharrys School, shared the sentiment: “As a school we focus on integrity as a core value, and regularly discuss this with our students.

“We all have a role to play in shaping balanced, polite, and positive young people.”

County councillor for Abingdon North, Nathan Ley, said: “Tackling the fundamental root cause of antisocial behaviour in the long run is something that we, as policy makers, need to focus more of our energy on at a societal level.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1