A council is targeting nuisance off-road bikers in an estate that has become a "no-go area" for some families.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police said they are cracking down on more than 200 homes across the Norton estate, Stoke-on-Trent.
The Labour-run council is making an attempt to "reclaim our estates" from anti-social behaviour.
StokeonTrentLive reports that one tenant refused to allow the council to house them on the Norton estate due to ongoing "anti-social behaviour."
StokeonTrentLive reports the Norton estate has become a "no-go zone"
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Cabinet member for community safety Councillor David Williams said: "When we are out door-knocking people tell us they want to feel safe where they live, they want it to be safe when their kids go out and play. So it’s important that we’ve got a visible presence out in communities.
"We have gone after nuisance neighbours, we’ve tackled anti-social behaviour issues, and we’ve gone after people using stolen or nuisance bikes, causing chaos in local areas.
"It’s about making sure we get on top of the issues because people deserve to feel pride in where they live.
"It will never be ok for a small number of people to make life unbearable for anyone else and we are determined to reclaim our estates because we all deserve to live in a community that we are proud to be part of."
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Stoke-on-Trent City council is cracking down on action on the Norton estate
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Staffordshire is one of 16 police areas in England and Wales which were selected for "trailblazer" schemes aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour. The scheme involves funding being provided for patrols by police officers and other uniformed "authority figures."
According to the government, these patrols will deter anti-social behaviour while also allowing for increased and more speedy enforcement action against offenders.
Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams said: "As commissioner, I’m pleased to see the national focus and funding announced today through the government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan – with Staffordshire named as a pilot area – to tackle an issue which can have a devastating impact on victims and communities.
"Police, councils, housing associations and other partners all have an interest in reducing ASB, as where these problems are repeated, residents can feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods. Each area has its own priorities, so local knowledge is vital to identify not only where the problems are, but also where the solutions are."
Stoke-on-Trent City Council Civic Centre
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The pilots were announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with increased fines for graffiti and fly-tipping, and an extra one million hours of youth services in areas most affected by anti-social behaviour.
Sunak said: "Anti-social behaviour undermines the basic right of people to feel safe in the place they call home.
"The public have rightly had enough – which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished.
"This action plan maps out how we will tackle this issue with the urgency it deserves and stamp out these crimes once and for all – so that wherever you live, you can feel safe in, and proud of your community."
