POLICE are encouraging residents to report anti-social behaviour (ASB) as part of a national awareness campaign aimed at making communities safer.

Devon & Cornwall Police is supporting ASB Awareness Week 2026, which runs from June 29 to July 5.

The campaign is led by Resolve, the UK's leading organisation on community safety and anti-social behaviour, and is backed by HM Government, the Local Government Association, the National Police Chiefs' Council and a range of national partners.

The campaign seeks to raise awareness of the impact anti-social behaviour has on communities while encouraging people to report incidents so police and partner agencies can take action.

Devon & Cornwall Police says reports of anti-social behaviour across the force area have fallen by 10.2 per cent over the past 12 months, a reduction it attributes to close working between neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, housing providers and community safety partners.

Lead Inspector for Neighbourhood Policing, Steve Philp, said officers had focused their efforts on tackling issues where they have the greatest impact.

‘In the last 12 months we have seen a 10.2 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour incidents’, he said.

‘This has been achieved by working with Community Safety Partnerships, housing authorities and other agencies, while focusing our delivery through our Neighbourhood Policing Teams who have the best understanding of their communities’.

The force has also targeted 15 anti-social behaviour hotspots across Devon and Cornwall over the past two years.

These areas have benefited from increased foot patrols by police officers and street marshals, funded through Home Office grants secured by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez, alongside additional support from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Inspector Philp said continued public support was essential in helping police tackle anti-social behaviour.

‘We hope this reduction in ASB boosts the confidence of the public in reporting it to us, as they are the other key to reducing the harm it causes’, he said.

‘Every report helps us allocate our resources effectively, whether that's through enforcement action or working with charities, youth organisations and community groups’.

He added that anti-social behaviour can have a significant impact on people's quality of life.

‘It affects people's sense of safety, their mental health and, for some, their ability to remain in their home.

‘Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home and neighbourhood, and the public are our strongest partners in achieving that. If anti-social behaviour is blighting your community, please report it’.

Neighbourhood policing teams have a range of powers available to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour, including Community Protection Warnings and Notices, Criminal Behaviour Orders, Civil Injunctions, Closure Orders, Public Spaces Protection Orders and dispersal powers.

Rebecca Bryant, Chief Executive of Resolve, said the campaign highlights an issue that continues to affect communities across the country.

‘Anti-social behaviour is a deeply disruptive issue that affects how safe people feel, their wellbeing and, for some, whether they can remain in their home’, she said.

‘ASB Awareness Week is about raising awareness, improving confidence in reporting and strengthening the partnerships needed to respond effectively. We are delighted that Devon & Cornwall Police is supporting this vital campaign’.

Residents can report anti-social behaviour through the Devon & Cornwall Police website or by calling 101.

The force is also encouraging people to sign up to its free Community Messaging service, which provides local updates and allows residents to share concerns directly with neighbourhood policing teams.

For more information about ASB Awareness Week, visit: www.resolveuk.org.uk/asb-awareness-week