New uniformed anti-social behaviour officers are now patrolling Bedford town centre as part of a grant-funded partnership between Bedford Borough Council, Bedfordshire Police and the Home Office.
The scheme, which runs until the end of March 2026, aims to increase visibility, provide reassurance, and help tackle persistent anti-social behaviour in the busiest parts of the town.
The officers are employed through a contracted provider and work daily foot patrols, engage with the public, support community safety events and report environmental issues. They are not on commission for issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.
Cllr Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant (Conservative, Great Barford), Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, said, “We are committed to making Bedford town centre a safer and more welcoming place.
“This grant-funded initiative enables us to add visible uniformed anti-social behaviour officers to assist the council and partners by deterring anti-social behaviour…
“[This will be] through their regular presence and engagement with the community by focusing on reassurance and support and working alongside our enforcement partners to maintain public safety.”
Read: Crackdown on anti-social behaviour as new PSPO agreed for Bedford town centre
What they do
The town centre officers will work alongside police and council teams to identify and address issues within the designated zone. They can offer advice, report concerns and support wider enforcement operations when needed.
They will be deployed in pairs throughout the week.
Their work includes supporting hotspot areas identified under the Home Office’s Operation Salus and contributing to the enforcement of the Public Spaces Protection Order, which focuses on issues such as public drinking, begging, dangerous cycling and littering.
The officers wear uniforms with high-visibility jackets that read “ASB officer” across the back. They also carry Bedford Borough Council identification.
Read: New Public Space Protection Order tackles antisocial behaviour but ‘safe’ cycling permitted
This new team operates alongside the council’s existing borough-wide enforcement officers, who already enforce Public Space Protection Orders and issue Fixed Penalty Notices for littering, dog fouling and other offences.
These officers are also not on commission. Full details on FPNs, including how to pay or dispute them, are available at bedford.gov.uk.
The council confirmed that all costs for the scheme are covered by Home Office grant funding and do not fall on local taxpayers.
