Solace launches to tackle anti-social behaviour across Cheltenham and Gloucester

The partnership - known as Solace – will be officially launched on Monday 14 May in the town centre.

Solace is comprised of Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council and Gloucestershire Constabulary. For some time, Solace has been successfully delivered by Gloucester City Council and following support from Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner, it has now been expanded to include Cheltenham borough.

Each of the councils now have a police constable, police community support officer and an anti-social behaviour case worker, with a team leader over seeing both sites.

The aim of Solace is to reduce repeat incidents and victims of ASB by providing a consistent partnership approach between the Constabulary, CBC and GCC to tackling anti-social behaviour.

The objectives are:

• Reduce repeat victims of ASB
• Provide an holistic approach to resolving ASB
• Increase public confidence
• Provide sustainable long-term solutions to resolving ASB.

Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said, “Anti-social behaviour is something that needs nipping in the bud as early as possible. Left unchecked it can have a demoralising effect on our communities and is what concerns many people the most.

“In holding the Constabulary to account I have always stressed in my Police and Crime Plan the need for more effective neighbourhood policing and I am pleased the partnership approach of Solace reflects this”.

Cllr Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for development and safety, says: “It’s absolutely essential that we work closely with the police and our partners to ensure that this work is carried out to the very best of our combined abilities. This is not something that we can do as one organisation, but together we can assist Solace in investigating and having a rounded approach to tackling antisocial behaviour.”  

The public are encouraged to come and meet Solace officers at the Solace van on Monday 14 May, on the High Street outside Marks & Spencer from 10am – 2pm.

For press enquiries, contact:  Laura Carter, communications officer, email [email protected]

Editor’s notes

Solace will investigate reported ASB if it meets one of the five key priorities:

1. Anti-social behaviour assessed as high risk to the victim and/or having a high impact upon the community
2. Partnership priorities as agreed between Gloucestershire Constabulary, Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council, which require a multi-agency response
3. Support for cases where urgent civil action is required (e.g. closure orders)
4. Anti-social behaviour assessed as medium risk that would;
   • Benefit from a multi-agency response, and/or
   • Has a significant potential to escalate
5. Support for all other cases where civil enforcement action is being considered (e.g. criminal behaviour orders and civil injunction)

Come and meet Solace officers:

Solace officers will be attending various sites across Cheltenham and Gloucester in May to speak with members of the community about the work of Solace at the following locations:

• 15 May – 10am – 1pm at St Michael’s Church, Severn Road, Cheltenham
• 19 May – 10.30am – 3pm at the annual Scout fete in Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham
• 23 May – 10am – 1pm at Charlton Kings Library, 36A Church Street, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham
• 1 June – 12.00pm – 3pm at Asda, Bruton Way, Gloucester

Contact a member of Solace:

To report anti-social behaviour through Solace, contact:

Cheltenham Borough Council, 01242 264135, [email protected]

Gloucester City Council, 01452 396396, [email protected]

Police, 101 for non-urgent calls or 999 in an emergency