Yellow and Red Card Scheme

Thames Valley Police and South Bucks District Council are extending a red-and-yellow card campaign to tackle low-level anti-social behaviour to all police officers following a successful pilot scheme, held over the past months.

The scheme addresses low-level anti-social behaviour, such as verbal abuse or other persistent nuisance behaviour.

If police believe someone has behaved anti-socially, they issue them with a yellow card, take their details and, if they are under 18, inform their parents. They will also receive a warning letter.

The next time someone is caught behaving anti-socially, police officers will visit the offender or their parents and deliver a further warning letter, together with a red card. At this point, Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, social housing sanctions or youth intervention schemes are considered.

PC Andy McDonnell, anti-social behaviour officer for South Bucks District, said: “Initially only neighbourhood policing teams took part in the project, but because it has been so successful, response officers who attend emergencies are now also taking part. This should improve our intelligence picture even further and target the individuals who behave anti-socially.

“We’ve seen a drastic reduction in complaints about anti-social behaviour in areas of Taplow, Burnham and Denham, where we have used this scheme, so now that all officers are using it I would expect things to get even better.

“The project has helped me and my colleague Carole Bennett, anti-social behaviour intervention officer at South Bucks District Council, get a good idea of who our main trouble makers are and during the six-month pilot scheme we issued about 40 yellow cards to suspected trouble makers. In most cases, they seem to have taken this seriously and there have been no further issues with the individuals concerned. Fortunately, we have been able to resolve several cases before having to issue a red card.

“However, if anti-social behaviour is not reported, we won’t know about it, so my message to residents is: Don’t tolerate it, report it.”

To report anti-social behaviour, telephone the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. To find out the opening times and location of your local station visit  www.thamesvalley.police.uk/bcu/buckinghamshire/bcu-info/stations.htm

ASB Team Contact Details:
ASB Intervention Officer
Tel: 01895 837 253

ASB Officer
0845 8 505 505

ASB Assistant
Tel: 01895 837 304