Accredited Community Safety Officers

The Accredited Community Safety Officer ( ACSO ) service was established in 2004 to tackle community safety issues, such as anti-social behaviour and nuisance, highlighted by a resident’s survey commissioned by the County Council.

The service has clear links to one of Hampshire County Council’s priorities which is a “Safer and More Secure Hampshire for All”.  It also reflects the organization’s commitment to Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act.

The service operates across the county from five bases, Havant, Gosport, New Forest, Basingstoke and Winchester.  The Havant team consists of 8 officers and has its local office based at the Staunton Community College in West Leigh.  Officers carry out high visibility patrols on foot, cycles and in prominently marked vehicles equipped with CCTV .

The officers are community driven and deal with issues and concerns that affect resident’s everyday quality of life, examples being, anti-social behaviour and youth nuisance issues, these can include illegal use of mini-motor bikes and under-age drinking. We will also take action and report on environmental crimes.

Officers have the power to request the name and address of offenders and failure to comply makes them liable to arrest by a police officer.  They also have the power to confiscate alcohol and cigarettes from young people who are under-age and can require the removal of abandoned vehicles.  In addition officers provide information and direct people to County Council services.

They assist in monitoring acceptable behaviour agreements ( ABA s) and enforcing anti-social behaviour orders ( ASBOs ).  The officers act as professional witnesses where there are breaches of such orders and provide evidence when they witness criminal behaviour.

Following consultation with the police our powers now include issuing issuing penalty notices for:

• throwing fireworks in the street
• consuming alcohol in designated public places

The officers generally give advice and issue warnings first, but where appropriate they will issue fixed penalty notices for littering, fly-posting, dog fouling, graffiti and cycling on a footpath.

The service has also introduced a ‘Yellow Card’ scheme, designed to challenge youngsters’ behaviour and recognise their responsibilities to others.  Over 1200 Yellow Cards have been issued and letters sent to parents and, where necessary, the need for additional specialist support has been identified.  As part of a twin track approach, they also work towards community regeneration by engaging with young people.