NEIGHBOURHOOD police officers are urging householders to join a public meeting tomorrow night, after stepping up patrols across Oxford’s estates.

The meeting, at Risinghurst Community Centre, Kiln Lane, from 7pm, will give people living in the Risinghurst, Barton and Sandhills areas of the city, a chance to help shape the police’s priorities over the next six months.

All week, police have been running high-visibility operations in the city to tackle antisocial behaviour, especially minor criminal damage, drunken behaviour and intimidation by gangs of youths.

They are patrolling Barton, Headington, Marston and Wood Farm.

In addition, they have been running vehicle number plates through automatic number plate recognition checks in Bayswater Road and The Slade to catch motorists who have no insurance.

Sgt Yak Teladia, Barton’s senior neighbourhood officer, said 20 Pcs and Pcsos were taking part in the operation.

He said: “Tackling antisocial behaviour is one of the main priorities in each of the four neighbourhood action groups (Nags) in the north east of the city.

“Getting officers from all four Nags together, and targeting known hotspots, is very effective, and reassures the public.

“We are identifying troublemakers and taking appropriate action.”

Between November and January, incidents of antisocial behaviour on many of the city’s estates rose sharply compared to the same period in the previous year.In Marston, overall crime dropped by 19 per cent, but incidents of antisocial behaviour rose by 14 per cent.

In Barton, overall crime dropped by 24 per cent but, like Marston, incidents of antisocial behaviour rose by 14 per cent.

Over the past six months, police in Risinghurst have been prioritising speeding, obstructive parking and antisocial behaviour.

Sgt Teladia said tomorrow’s meeting would enable residents to help shape priorities for the next six months.

He said: “It’s an opportunity for any residents in Barton, Risinghurst and Sandhills to come and meet their neighbourhood officers and have their say.

“If people say drugs are the main problem, we will prioritise drugs.If people say speeding is the main problem, we will prioritise that.

“We want to determine our three main priorities.”

Later in the month, new parking restrictions are set to be introduced outside McDonald’s in The Roundway, and around Bayards Hill Primary School in Barton, as a direct result of people raising issues with police.

One of Thames Valley Police’s mobile police vans will also be stationed in Burchester Avenue, Barton, on Saturday, between 10am and 4pm; Downside Road, Risinghurst, on Saturday, March 21, between 10am and 4pm; and The Roundway, Risinghurst, on Sunday, March 22, between 10am and 4pm, allowing people to contribute further.

To contact the Barton, Risinghurst and Sandhills neighbourhood officers email bartonrisinghurst@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk