Police in Newcastle are to be handed more money to tackle antisocial behaviour which is plaguing the town centre.

Staffordshire Police this week were handed more money to pilot a new Government scheme which will put more police and PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) to tackle hotspot areas for antisocial behaviour.

The force will see £2m government funding over two years which will focus on five key areas including Newcastle town centre before being rolled out across the country.

The money will provide dedicated officers and PSCOs dedicated solely to the town centre, which since the start of the year to May has seen 207 reports of antisocial behaviour.

Newcastle town centre has seen over 200 reports of antisocial behaviour since May (Nub News).

Chief Inspector John Owen, of the Newcastle Local Policing Team, said: "The town centre is absolutely key for us to get right as an organisation, to ensure people feel safe, that they want to come here and ultimately Newcastle is a really vibrant town centre.

"Repeat antisocial behaviour hotspots have been identified, so it will be officers responsibility to be in and around there, to be visible to the community and to deter some of that antisocial behaviour that is taking place.

"This gives us dedicated visible officers and PSCOs in and around the town centre which will hopefully reassure the community and local businesses."

Staffordshire Police Commissioner Ben Adams said he expected more reporting of antisocial behaviour as individuals get more confident in reporting crime to the police.

Commissioner Ben Adams expects reports of antisocial behaviour to increase (Image supplied).

The Commissioner said: "We'll measure success in two ways by reduced antisocial behaviour, reduced reporting of that but also those measures of perception. If residents are telling us they are more confident, they've seen more police and feel more confident in reporting.

"In face we might see more reporting early on, I'd be surprised if we don't because because there will be a sense if report this it'll get attention and that will be really helpful because sometimes the same things are reported by several people but every but of information can build a picture and help problem solve it.

"I think residents and businesses welcome that visibility and when we do surveys they ask us for it, it's almost their top priority. It's about reassurance, it's about perception and it doesn't mean they are taking on an incident all the time but they can be approached, somebody might have intelligence, they might be worried about someone and they have the chance to communicate that with the police."

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