Police have written to the parents of a group of young people they say are behind anti-social behaviour in Harpenden's parks and town centre, after residents named it as a policing priority in the force's last public survey. The complaints logged were drinking, drug-smoking and abusive behaviour in local parks — the sort of thing that keeps families off Rothamsted Park and Lydekker Park on a summer evening.
Officers say they have stepped up patrols around the parks and are working with Harpenden Town Council, and will keep monitoring and dealing with incidents. Letters to parents are the cheapest tool in the box and often the most effective one; they are also unmeasured. The priority was set at the start of August, so the question for the autumn is whether the next survey shows parks residents feel able to use after dark, or the same complaint restated.
- Members of the public asked Hertfordshire Constabulary to focus on anti-social behaviour in local parks, including drinking alcohol, smoking drugs and abusive behaviour.
- Police have identified a group of young people causing anti-social behaviour in parks and in the town, and the Community Safety Unit has written to their parents.
- Proactive patrols around the parks have increased and police are working with partner agencies including Harpenden Town Council.
- Police say they will continue to monitor, engage and deal with any incidents.
- The priority was set at the start of August 2026.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 6 September 2026.
- www.police.uk/pu/your-area/ (police priority update)
Claim by claim (5 facts, 2 editorial judgements)
- Members of the public asked Hertfordshire Constabulary to focus on anti-social behaviour in local parks, including drinking alcohol, smoking drugs and abusive behaviour. — police priority update, 2026-08-01“During our last survey members of the public asked us to focus on anti-social behaviour in local parks, including drinking alcohol, smoking drugs and abusive behaviour.”
- Police have identified a group of young people causing anti-social behaviour in parks and in the town, and the Community Safety Unit has written to their parents. — police priority update, 2026-08-01“We have identified a group of young people causing anti-social behaviour in parks and in the town. The Community Safety Unit has sent letters to their parents.”
- Proactive patrols around the parks have increased and police are working with partner agencies including Harpenden Town Council. — police priority update, 2026-08-01“We have increased proactive patrols around the parks and worked with partner agencies including Harpenden Town Council.”
- Police say they will continue to monitor, engage and deal with any incidents. — police priority update, 2026-08-01“We will continue to monitor, engage and deal with any incidents.”
- The priority was set at the start of August 2026. — police priority update, 2026-08-01“Set: 2026-08-01T00:00:00”
- Judgement: Letters to parents are a low-cost intervention whose effect is not measured publicly.
- Judgement: The test will be whether the next public survey repeats the same complaint.
Photograph: Colin Riegels / Legis at en.wikipedia, Public domain · source · licence
