Dear Resident,

We are pleased to share some positive news regarding the ongoing efforts to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) at The Vine in Sevenoaks. Over the past year or so, many of you have expressed concerns regarding Anti-Social-Behaviour typically occurring on Friday and Saturday nights, including large gatherings of youths, fighting, underage drinking, drug use, criminal damage and excessive noise. Your reports have been crucial in helping us address these issues effectively.

In response to these concerns, the police and partner agencies have taken a range of actions and we are delighted to report a significant decrease in ASB-related incidents at The Vine.

Action Taken

1. Increased Police Presence: Dispersal orders were placed over the summer of 2023, allowing officers to disperse groups causing disturbances. These measures played a significant role in reducing large gatherings.

2. Collaboration with Partners: We established a tasking and finish group which met to coordinate efforts between the police, the local council, and other stakeholders. The actions and progress were recorded on a proactive management plan (PMP), which provided police with a single place to record their problem solving and investigation management activity.

3. Enhanced Patrols: British Transport Police (BTP) increased their patrols on Friday nights at Sevenoaks train station, alongside Railway Enforcement Officers (REOs). Local beat officers, supported by the Neighbourhood Tasking Force (NTF) and Local Policing Team (LPT) also prioritised The Vine as part of their red route patrols.

4. Improved Security: The town council upgraded lighting and enhanced CCTV coverage around The Vine’s Band Stand. 

5. Public Space Protection Order (PSPO): A PSPO was approved and implemented in February 2024. 

6. Ongoing Enforcement: Police have issued ASB sanctions to persons causing issue in the area, ensuring that offenders are held accountable.

7. School Engagement: Officers have engaged with local schools to raise awareness about the issues at The Vine, encouraging students to take responsibility and avoid becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.

Crime reduction: statistics

Thanks to these combined efforts, we have seen a 93.3% reduction in calls related to nuisance youths at The Vine. Between January 1st and July 16th, 2023, there were 15 calls from the public regarding ASB. In 2024, during the same period, only one call was received. This dramatic decrease is a testament to the effectiveness of the measures put in place and the cooperation between the police, partner agencies, and the community.

PC Nick Hubbard said: “ASB is at the heart of neighbourhood policing and this particular hotspot area has been a priority for months. The police have worked hard with local partners to try and reduce the issues and improve the quality of life for those affected and will continue to monitor the situation over the summer months to ensure that these positive trends continue.