Bedford Borough Council is pleased to announce the launch of a new town centre anti-social behaviour initiative, which is grant-funded through Bedfordshire Police and the Home Office. This initiative will run through to the end of March 2026 and aims to provide additional visible patrols in Bedford town centre to help tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB).
The ASB officers are employed through a contracted provider, with officers providing reassurance for those living, working, visiting, or studying in the town centre through daily foot patrols and community engagement activities such as pop-up advice events and environmental reporting. The ASB officers are not on commission for issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).
What do the ASB officers do if they come across anti-social behaviour?
The ASB officers will work in partnership with the police and the council’s services to identify and address anti-social behaviour in the designated area.
How can they be recognised?
The ASB officers are clearly identifiable, wearing uniforms and high vis jackets displaying ‘ASB officer’ on the back. The officers also have a Bedford Borough Council badge and an officer ID card with their officer number on the front of their uniform.
The council already provides borough-wide enforcement officers under a separate agreement. These officers have the authority to enforce Public Space Protection Orders and issue FPNs related to littering, dog fouling and other offences. Again, these officers are not on commission for issuing FPNs. Further information on FPNs, along with how people can pay or dispute FPNs issued by enforcement officers, is available here: www.bedford.gov.uk/FixedPenaltyNotices
Councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, said, “We are committed to making Bedford town centre a safer and more welcoming place. This grant-funded initiative enables us to add visible uniformed anti-social behaviour officers to assist the council and partners by deterring anti-social behaviour through their regular presence and engagement with the community, by focusing on reassurance and support and working alongside our enforcement partners to maintain public safety.”
The town centre ASB officers will be deployed in teams, working in pairs across shifts throughout the week. Their remit includes working within the areas identified as hotspots under the Home Office’s Operation Salus and supporting the Public Spaces Protection Order to address behaviours such as public drinking, begging, dangerous cycling, littering, and other issues to improve residents’ and visitors’ perception of safety.
All costs for this scheme are covered by the grant, ensuring no additional financial burden on the council or taxpayers.