Notorious Hitchin hot-spot for late night anti-social behaviour sees huge reduction in offences after police shame culprits by releasing CCTV images
Late night anti-social offences at a Hitchin hot-spot have fallen dramatically. - Credit: Archant
An alley in Hitchin, notorious as a haven for late-night anti-social behaviour, has seen a large reduction of incidents after CCTV images of culprits started appearing in the Comet.
West Alley, a secluded area of Hitchin’s Market Place, has seen a large reduction reported incidents of anti-social behaviour after police began to release CCTV images of people urinating.
In 2014, the year before the initiative was launched, 27 separate incidents of ASB were reported by residents living in West Alley.
After images started appearing in the media the figure fell to 13, before falling to five in 2016.
So far in 2017, no reports of ASB in West Alley have been reported.
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Hitchin Urban Safer Neighbourhood Team Sergeant Stephen Oliphant said: “The area is secluded and attracts people causing a nuisance, often fuelled by alcohol, particularly at the weekends when the pubs and clubs are at their busiest.
“Through conducting proactive patrols and using CCTV in West Alley, we’ve seen a definite decline in ASB – which is great news.
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“We will keep up our high visibility patrols and continue to monitor and release CCTV images of anyone believed to be using West Alley as a toilet or causing any other trouble in the area.”
