MEMBERS of the public are being encouraged to make a stand against anti-social behaviour after new plans were revealed by Hampshire Police.
The plans to tackle anti-social incidents occurring in Winchester and surrounding towns have been outlined in an Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy published by Hampshire Constabulary’s Community Safety Department.
The strategy aims to combine effective local action in the form of public vigilance, with the ongoing work of the police and the Safer Streets Campaign to try and combat the rising rates of anti social behaviour in the area.
The plans outlined in the report, aim to use the ‘extended policing family’ within the community, which includes Police Community Support Officers, Accredited Community Support Officers and local neighbourhood wardens, who will undertake ‘High Visibility’ patrols in problem areas 3-4 times a week and frequently liaise with members of the local community. It is hoped that this will provide reassurance and encouragement to people who have previously felt too intimidated by those whose behaviour is anti-social to make a stand and report such incidents.
This report comes shortly after it was announced that the 101 non-emergency telephone service, which Hampshire residents can use to anonymously report anti-social behaviour, is now to be kept until at least 2009.
A spokesperson for the Community Safety department of Hampshire Constabulary said:” Dealing with anti-social behaviour is one of our long-term prioritys, and improvements must be constantly made in order to retain the confidence of the residents in Winchester. We hope that this new strategy will help to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour at its root”.
Hampshire police hope that the new plans, along with the continuation of the ‘101’ service, will urge the public to make a further stand against anti-social behaviour, and reduce the occurrence of such crime in and around Winchester.
By Lauren Prater
This is good writing in typical news style. The story is a bit dull, and there’s no angle (bascially it is just a public service announcement). You have not reached the BEGGER ROBBED BY PENSIONER sort of standard (see other blogs) in terms of finding a decent news story. But don’t worry about that because that only comes with practice. Also there’s an element of luck concerning what stories fall into your lap until you’ve developed a couple of contacts.
Even on a story as routine as this you need a quote earlier in the story, and the one you’ve got should be edited doewn to make it more punchy. Some of the best quote are only three or four words long. Huge long quotes are very boring and readers will give up and read something else.
This is fine. It is certainly a pass at this level. Probably you need more ‘attack’ in finding and telling the story. But there’s plenty of time to practice and read the papers, etc.