Town centre anti-social behaviour scheme expanded

A scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour in a town centre is to be expanded.

The Kettering Anti-Social Behaviour Reporting System (KARS) allows businesses to report incidents and information about the people causing problems, which is then shared with police.

Kettering Town Council said its aim was "to disrupt the root causes of anti-social behaviour, enhancing community safety for shoppers, workers and all visitors".

The area covered will be extended from the town centre to Highfield Crescent, London Road, Hampden Crescent, St Stephen's Road, St John's Road, Brambleside and Lake Avenue.

KARS provides a secure system for businesses to submit reports of anti-social behaviour.

Information is then sent to police and other agencies to gather intelligence and take appropriate action.

Kettering Town Council said it had allocated funding to allow the system to be managed for another year.

Alison Farr from Northamptonshire Business Crime Partnership said: "This is building on the successes that we have already seen in the last 12 months, with increased police patrols and the recruitment of wardens by North Northamptonshire Council to help enforce current anti-social behaviour legislation."

Andy Byatt, chairman of the town council's finance committee, said: "This is the first of several initiatives to make our town centre and shopping areas better places to visit and work."

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