We want our customers to feel safe and secure in their home so we have a dedicated Neighbourhood Safety Team to help us achieve this.

Our 4 Neighbourhood Safety Officers (NSO’s) work with our customers to ensure they feel supported to take positive action to address anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the borough and improve the overall quality of life for all residents.

In support of ASB Awareness Week, we’re shining the spotlight on the important work of our NSO’s. Jason Mather, is  Neighbourhood Safety Officer for Runcorn. We asked Jason to tell us a bit more about his role.

Tell us about your job

My role involves investigation and managing anti-social behaviour (ASB). This can include hate crime and dealing with threatening behaviour, to problems such as dogs barking and other noise nuisance. I work closely with other service areas within Halton Housing and external agencies to assist me in identifying preventative strategies to tackle and reduce the ASB within our communities and neighbourhoods.

We couldn’t do all of this by ourselves, partnerships are vital in helping us tackle ASB, we work closely with Cheshire Police and Halton Borough Council.

Why did you want to be Neighbourhood Safety Officer?

With my background firmly rooted in Neighbourhood Policing problem solving it is a natural progression.

What were you doing/what was your role before?

I was a Police Officer for 16 years before being medically retired. I have been driving a VPM Ambulance recently.

What skills are important for a role like yours?

Being human. People forget that communication is key to developing good relationships with customers and partner agencies.

What is the best part of your job?

Being a Neighbourhood Safety Officer can be extremely challenging yet unbelievably rewarding. No two days are ever the same and the team and I often deal with some extremely high-risk and complex cases that have huge impacts upon victims and the wider community. Achieving a positive outcome and knowing that the work we’ve carried out has not only made a situation better for a customer but also the community is really rewarding.

What are the challenges?

Working closely with customers, families and communities you witness the detrimental impacts ASB can have on them personally. Managing ASB can be a lengthy process and it can be disheartening to see those negative impacts on all involved when an immediate resolution is not available. We also are very mindful that heavy punishments are not always the answer, even if it seems like the best option for others involved. To help achieve the best outcomes and solutions, we put support in place for victims and perpetrators by working with partner agencies. 

What would you say to anyone worried about ASB?

Let us know! We can only solve a problem if it is highlighted.