Antrim and Newtownabbey sees highest percentage increase in reported anti-social behaviour

The data, which covers from November 1 2019 until October 31 2020, shows 4,773 anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded by police during this time in the district.

For the period between November 2018 and October 2019, 3,421 ASB incidents were reported to police. This is a 39.5 per cent change (1,352).

In neighbouring Mid and East Antrim district, 3,689 incidents were reported during the 2018/19 period.

The district saw a 26.3 per cent increase for the period between November 1 2019 and October 31 2020 with 4,659 ASB incidents reported.

The largest increase across Northern Ireland’s 15 policing districts for the 2019/2020 period was in Belfast City Centre with 2,736 additional incidents being logged with officers. From November 2018 to October 2019 17,180 ASB incidents were recorded by police.

Between November 1 2019 to October 31 2020 a total of 19,916 incidents were reported to police in the district- a percentage increase of 15.9 since the previous year.

In 12 months from November 1 2019 to October 31 2020 there were 69,394 anti-social behaviour incidents reported to police in Northern Ireland, an increase of 12,974 (23.0 per cent) on the previous 12 months.

In a statement issued to the Newtownabbey Times, a PSNI spokesperson said: “The trend generally followed the same direction as that seen in the previous 12 months, up to March 2020.

“In the period November 2019 to February 2020 the number of anti-social behaviour incidents fell below levels seen in the previous 12 months.

“Lockdown measures in relation to Covid-19 were introduced on March 23 2020. The introduction of lockdown measures resulted in substantially higher levels of anti-social behaviour incidents, most notably in April and May 2020.

“When compared to the same months in 2019, figures for April to October 2020 were higher by 2,955, 3,272, 1,816, 1,392, 1,357, 1,621, and 1,950 respectively.

“The latest month (October 2020) was 521 incidents higher than September 2020; October levels have been higher than those in September since the start of the data series in 2006/07, with the exception of 2014.

“Anti-social behaviour incidents tend to show higher levels in July, August and October of each year. There is usually a sharp fall in incidents between October and November, followed by lower levels between November and February/March.

“Lockdown measures in relation to Covid-19, which were introduced on March 23, have had a substantial impact on the number of anti-social behaviour incidents. The level recorded in the latest 12 months is similar to those seen during 2011/12 and 2012/13.”

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