Antisocial Behaviour Rises On The Yorkshire Coast Despite County-Wide Fall

North Yorkshire Police have reported a 6.5 per cent increase in antisocial behaviour across the coast command, specifically targeting areas in Scarborough and Whitby, despite an overall downward trend across the wider county.

North Yorkshire Police have revealed new figures detailing the current state of antisocial behaviour across the region, highlighting a specific increase in incidents along the Yorkshire Coast.

While the wider county has seen a general decrease in these types of offences, the coast command, which includes the seaside towns of Scarborough and Whitby, has experienced a notable rise.

According to the latest police data, antisocial behaviour typically follows a predictable seasonal pattern. Incidents tend to be low during the winter months, steadily increasing to a peak in July. Following this summer peak, the figures follow a downward trajectory back towards the Christmas period, which represents the typical demand profile across policing.

Looking at the broader picture, the overall volumes of antisocial behaviour across the policing area for 2025 show a slight increase of just over one per cent compared to 2024. However, this figure remains significantly lower, by fourteen per cent, when compared to the year prior to that. This indicates that while the long-term trajectory remains downward, there has been a short-term stabilisation of demand.

North Yorkshire Police's Deputy Chief Constable, Ben Moseley, detailed the current statistics and the seasonal trends affecting the force:

"So low in the winter months, increasing from it to a peak in July and then a downward trajectory back to Christmas, follows that typical demand profile across policing. The key point I want to highlight here is that ASB [antisocial behaviour] volumes across 2025 are actually 1% or 1.1% more than 2024, but 14% less than the year before. So whilst the long-term trajectory remains downward, in the short term we have seen a, I would say a stabilisation of ASB demand. And and broken down by command area, we obviously have three commands in in North Yorkshire Police. What we're seeing uh is a downward trajectory of antisocial behaviour across the county command."

Despite the positive news for the broader county command, the situation is different for coastal communities.

The coast command has recorded an upward trajectory of six and a half per cent in antisocial behaviour. Police have identified that this rise is very specifically linked to two distinct areas within Scarborough town centre.

In response to this localised spike, neighbourhood policing teams have implemented two targeted problem-solving plans. These plans are structured around the force's established 'four Ps' approach. This strategy focuses heavily on the preparation and prevention of crime, the ongoing protection of local residents, and the active pursuit of the perpetrators who are responsible for the disruption.

The specific areas of concern in Scarborough have been identified as the Alma Square area and the main town centre business district.

Deputy Chief Constable Moseley explained the localized coastal issues and the strategies being deployed to tackle them.

"We're seeing an upward trajectory of 6.5% in the coast command, Scarborough, Whitby. That's very specifically linked to two areas of antisocial behaviour in Scarborough Town Centre for which the neighbourhood teams have two problem solving plans now in place to address those through what we call our four Ps approach. So focusing on preparation, prevention of crime, protection of residents and the pursuit of perpetrators responsible for that. One of them is in the Alma Square area, the other is more in the town centre business district. So yes an uptick in in coast command but we we have a well-rehearsed and well-led problem solving plan to address those particular cases."

Officers remain confident that their well-rehearsed and well-led strategies will effectively address the particular cases causing the uptick in coastal antisocial behaviour.