Does Stratford have an anti-social behaviour problem? Issues, policing and perception

In a residential area of Stratford – an area that stretches from around Albany Road and goes across to Shottery Fields – there are concerns with ASB and crime. The issue there, according to residents who contacted the Herald, is drug dealing, especially in the alleyways and lanes between the residential streets and behind the Scout hut and in Shottery Fields itself.

“I think there’s always been one of two drug dealers about, but it was occasional, not regular,” one resident, who asked not to be named, said. “There’s now open drug dealing going on with couriers on bikes.”

One of the favoured spots, the resident said, is close to Scout hut. There is no passing traffic, it’s secluded and there are escape routes along Summerton Way towards Evesham Place, through to Albany Road, across to The Willows or over to Alcester Road and to the nearby railway station.

According to the resident it has been happening for more than two years and at the end of 2022, a tent was even set up in the area “with two or three people there and cyclist couriers going to and from it”.

As well as drug dealing around the lanes, it has also been said to take place by the playground on Shottery Fields while the area at large has also seen walls graffitied, people asking for money and, on 2nd June, a ‘ball grenade’ was let off in the area. Although legal, it alarmed those that heard it.

“A few of us heard it,” the resident said. “It sounded like a car back-firing.”

The police have been involved, patrolling the area, and there have been requests made for CCTV cameras to be installed, the resident said. But they also added that people living in the area have stopped reporting issues to the police after being left with the feeling, after some immediate attention, they were not being handled with a longer-term focus.

Ask others in Stratford and the same issues come up, as does the frustration.

Flair Gougouglia, owner of El Greco restaurant in Rother Street, Stratford, said: “It’s hard enough running a small business at the moment, particularly in hospitality, without the daily scourge of anti-social behaviour, drugs and alcohol only yards from your business, it’s frankly soul destroying.

“Stratford town centre needs to a pleasant and safe environment for locals and visitors alike. Businesses are on their knees and will need a positive environment in which to continue.

“We’ve got young teenage kids on the roof of NatWest on Saturday and I’d ask the parents ‘do you know where your kids are on a Saturday?’ “I’ve phoned the police twice in the last six weeks because I’m afraid someone’s going to die.”

Children on rooftops is not a new thing in Stratford – it happens more when the weather is warm and also during the school holidays. When it has happened in the past Warwickshire Police took a zero-tolerance approach and worked to track down offenders to address their behaviour.

Stratford District Council has also been involved in deterring children from putting themselves at risk after they were seen climbing onto the very top of Windsor Street car park in the town.

But the problems are recurring – some are regular, others are more sporadic, so the police have a never-ending cycle to deal with. But could that cycle be broken with a tougher stance?

Former Stratford mayor Cyril Bennis is a long-time campaigner who wants something to be done to improve the town centre.

“I feel dismayed with the whole situation, and I feel things are going to get worse,” he said. “We know our community and we know the individuals who are causing the problems in town.

“I’ve spoken with the police and crime commissioner and said we need to focus on Stratford because residents need to feel safe about walking around town.

“This anti-social behaviour is affecting evening footfall because some people are doing harm in our community and it’s not going to change because Stratford needs to be a priority for policing.”

While modern policing has to balance the needs of the individual with that of the community, as well as ensuring the safety of the vulnerable, Mr Bennis believes the “current policy is far too lenient”.

Over in Alcester a business owner who spoke to the Herald, but wished to remain anonymous, said it’s the drug dealing that has them worried.

“We get the odd incident of anti-social behaviour where a window might get pushed in, but it’s the drug dealing which ias the problem,” they said. “People are dealing in the town and there are mopeds flying around all the time and everybody knows about it but it still goes on.”

Response from Warwickshire Police

WHILE anti-social behaviour has been picked up by Stratford parliamentary candidates as a key issue ahead of the general election, the police urged a sober consideration of the problem.

Insp Ben Hembry, of the Stratford Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “The perception of increased or higher levels of violence and anti-social behaviour is unfortunately very subjective.

“Regrettably, if you are victim of such behaviour in a given location then it is an easy conclusion.”

The inspector blamed the media for sometimes painting a false picture.

In fact it is something he has taken particular umbrage with the Herald recently, despite our track record of covering such subjects in a responsible and non-sensationalist manner, and for merely responding to the testimony of residents.

He continued: “Likewise, if regular reports in the media, national or local, more often focus on negative incidents happening, as is so often the case, our local perceptions often become tainted by this – whether or not, there is a rise in problems, persistent or otherwise.

“I state this, not because the town or district as a whole doesn’t have its fair share of concerns that police and partners work hard to address, however it is also quite easy when something new occurs or suddenly happens or temporarily escalates, to perceive there is a sudden sustained rise in crime and ASB.”

There have been a number of alarming incidents in Stratford town last month, including five people arrested for violent disorder, where one was armed with a weapon; a 16-year-old arrested for making threats with a penknife.

But, said Insp Hembry, such incidents do not make up a trend.

He said: “Doing my role effectively is to honestly assess and respond to what is known and what has actually happened or is happening.

“Recently, we have had several higher profile incidents occur in Stratford town that have been more impactive, however this alone does not genuinely equate to any specific rise in violence or anti-social behaviour, concerning though they have been.”

The most common crimes in Stratford town, according to data site crimerate.co.uk, are violence and sexual offences – making up 30 per cent of crimes – with 1,190 offences during 2023, giving a crime rate of 37.

This is 17 per cent higher than 2022’s figure of 1,019 offences and a difference of 5.26 from 2022’s crime rate of 31.

Anti-social behaviour, which is defined as someone acting in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people, accounts for 20 per cent of incidents reported to police.

There were 69 cases of ASB recorded in April by Warwickshire Police, the last month there were records for, which is in line with previous months.

“The volume of crime and ASB varies week to week, but does not show we have actually experienced any specific rise or sustained rise impacting our communities at this time,” maintained Insp Hembry.

“While we can predict or anticipate certain trends associated with our business in the summer months, I do not feel there is a sustained increase or new issues experienced we are not already addressing or trying to address as diligently as we can or our public would expect.”

Insp Hembry went on to point to a number of initiatives that have been introduced to tackle problems, including educating on knife crime and targeting ASB hotspots, with such things as more patrols.

The force has also made use of S35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 – which can give officers the power to make dispersal orders, for example, such as banning people from an area.