There will be an increased police presence across Richmond Upon Thames this summer in an effort to reduce anti-social behaviour.

It is part of a new scheme named 'The Safer Streets Summer Initiative', which will involve more patrols around 'hotspot' areas and on Bee Network services such as buses.

Police will also be working closely with shops and local businesses to help identify issues.

The aim is to reduce and prevent the kind of anti-social behaviour which is more common over the summer holidays, such as offroad bike-riding and drug-dealing.

The new scheme is called 'The Safer Streets Summer Initiative' (credit: Nub News).

The scheme has been devised by the Home Office. Police forces across the country will be implementing it from Monday 30 June until 30 September.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "High streets and town centres are the very heart of our communities. Residents and businesses have the right to feel safe in their towns.

"But the last government left a surge in shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour which has left too many town centres feeling abandoned. 

"It's time to turn this round, that's why I have called on police forces and councils alike to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished. 

"The fact that 500 towns have signed up shows the strength of feeling on this issue. 

"Through our Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change, we are putting officers back on the beat where you can see them and making our town centres safe again."

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