Operation Panther targets anti-social behaviour

A police operation aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and criminal damage is being rolled out across Hertfordshire after a successful trial period.

The three-week trial of the East Hertfordshire initiative Operation Panther led to the detection of seven incidents of criminal damage and saw three fixed penalty notices for public order offences handed out.

Three people – two 17-year-olds and a 43-year-old woman – were also arrested on suspicion of theft after local residents reported seeing them on a nearby roof, while a car was also seized in relation to this offence.

Inspector Chris Hunt, from the safer neighbourhood team, said: “We have seen some excellent results from Operation Panther already. In the three weeks that the operation has been running we have sent out 20 letters to parents regarding their child’s behaviour, and as a result of that only two children have come to our attention again.”

Chief Inspector Gerry McDonald added: “We hope this sends a very clear message to residents of East Hertfordshire that we are taking the issue of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage very seriously and we are very pleased that the public are assisting us in our drive to improve the quality of life for residents. We are working in partnership with East Hertfordshire District Council and local housing associations to take positive action against any repeat offenders. In extreme cases this may lead to anti-social behaviour orders being applied for which may also jeopardise tenancy agreements.”

Operation Panther was initially trialled in Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridegeworth, Buntingford and the surrounding rural areas, but will now cover the whole of East Hertfordshire.