Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is calling on residents and businesses to share their experiences of anti-social behaviour(ASB) by completing her latest survey ahead of her next Public Accountability Meeting (PAM) on 2 July 2026, which will focus on efforts to tackle ASB.
The survey findings will play a key role in informing the questions the PCC puts to Chief Constable Rachel Bacon, as she scrutinises Durham Constabulary’s performance and challenges the force on issues that matter most to the public.
The Public Accountability Meeting provides an open forum for residents to raise concerns and ask questions on all forms of anti-social behaviour, including issues related to adults, young people, noise, and environmental nuisance. Members of the public are also invited to submit their own questions in advance, which will then be answered live during the meeting.
PCC Joy Allen said: “Anti-social behaviour remains one of the top priorities for our communities, which is why it is central to my Police, Crime and Justice Plan under the Safer Neighbourhoods theme.
“Hearing directly from residents and businesses is essential. Your experiences help build a clear and accurate picture of what is happening across our neighbourhoods.
“This means that local concerns can be properly understood, addressed and acted upon. So, please, send me your questions and take a couple of minutes to complete my survey.”
Public Accountability Meetings give the PCC a platform to monitor police performance against key priorities and to hold the Chief Constable and senior officers to account. They also highlight areas of strong performance while identifying where further improvements are needed.
Since first being elected in 2021, PCC Allen has secured around £4m in additional funding to support Durham Constabulary and partner organisations in tackling anti-social behaviour.
This has led to nearly 20,000 hours of extra patrols and wardens on the streets. In the year ending March 2026 there was a 14.3% decrease in the number of recorded drug-related ASB incidents (compared to the previous year). There was a significant increase in the numbers of youth and alcohol related incidents (41.9%). This increase can be attributed to additional neighbourhood patrols in the ‘hotspot’ areas and an increased confidence from the public to report issues.
Joy Allen added: “Neighbourhood policing plays a vital role in preventing and addressing anti-social behaviour. Officers who know their communities can identify issues early and take action before problems escalate. Alongside this, my office is strengthening support for victims, including improvements to the Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review process to ensure those affected are heard and supported.
“This is why it’s important that you use this survey as your opportunity to have your say. By sharing your experiences, you can help influence how services respond and ensure that the issues affecting your area remain front and centre.”
To complete the survey, visit Have Your Say on Anti-Social Behaviour – Fill in form
To send in a question, please email: General.EnquiriesPCC@durham-pcc.gov.uk.
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