Nottinghamshire Police neighbourhood teams are taking a number of measures to reduce anti-social behaviour, drinking and prostitution at a popular city centre recreation area. The Forest Recreation Ground had become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour with officers receiving frequent calls about offending in and around the site.
Now, Nottinghamshire Police and its partners have introduced CCTV cameras, extra high-visibility patrols, improved lighting, providing Ring doorbells for neighbouring homes and ANPR cameras. Four new CCTV cameras are set to be installed at the site over the coming weeks through Safer Streets funding – taking the total around the park to eight.
Sergeant Dan Griffin, of the City Central neighbourhood policing team, said: “Forest Rec is a great example of an area where people have identified problems with antisocial behaviour to us and we have responded. The area has previously had problems with street drinking, drug use, prostitution and other antisocial behaviour which has had a detrimental impact on people living nearby as well as those using the recreation area.
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“For the past 18 months as a neighbourhood team we have been carrying out high-visibility patrols in the area over three days each week, which have hopefully reassured members of the public and allowed us to respond to any issues quickly. We have also worked with partners to introduce a host of new cameras to make people safer and to help them feel safer.
“The latest CCTV cameras include help points which will allow victims of crime to talk directly to the city council’s CCTV monitoring hub. New cameras will be placed at entrances in Forest Road to make the route to the tram stop safer.
“Our partners at Nottingham City Council, local businesses and community groups are all working together to help reduce anti-social behaviour. I hope the measures introduced do their bit in attracting even more people to enjoy this green space in the city.”
Latest figures show the number of reported incidents of anti-social behaviour have fallen between April and the end of June this year when compared to the same period in 2022. The work done at Forest Rec is being highlighted by police as part of a national week of action which got underway on Monday, July 3.
