Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is the target for Newham police this month as officers take a new street-by-street approach to tackling crime.

Driven by Safer Neighbourhood Teams working in partnership with Newham Council’s street enforcement department, each team will be given a street a week in four areas to focus on throughout November.

The officers and team members will patrol ASB hotspots, visiting residents and businesses to listen to their concerns, and taking action against people causing distress in the area.

In Forest Gate, the ‘Street a Week’ initiative will focus on Disraeli Road, Gower Road, Chaucer Road and Upton Lane; in East Ham, High Street North, Market Street, and Heigham Road; in Upton Park, William Morley Close, Cleves Road, Redcyffe Road and Priory Road; and in Beckton, Bracken Close, Kingfisher Street, Periodot Street, and Nightingale Way.

Insp Sean McDermid, Newham’s deputy ASB lead, said: “ASB is a major area of risk and concern within the community; it is only right it is considered as serious as other criminal offences even if some incidents appear minor.

“Most of us have experienced ASB at some time in our lives and know how frustrating and distressing it can be.

“We are all too aware of those sad circumstances where ongoing ASB has lead to more serious outcomes.”

Newham police have also introduced a Total Victim Care programme in which they will issue Victim Care Cards to inform the public what they should expect during investigations, aim to improve correspondence, and install a Quality Call Back service.