Are mindsets the key to making communities safer?

A change in tack might be needed to help tackle anti-social behaviour – together

Let’s start with some obvious points… – enjoy the heat! Glasgow is Glasgow. And the weather is…well, it’s definitely weather.

So, in all honesty, my golf game is much more reliable in our usual sodden, hissing sidewinds than it has been in these recent balmy conditions. It’s just what I’m used to.

Safe to say this heatwave malarkey is throwing me a curveball…

And a slice. And a shank. And a whiff.

Of course, in golf, blaming the conditions will only get you so far. “Oh it’s far too nice and still for me to play well today” just doesn’t fly. Sometimes you need to look inwards.

I played a round last week with a partner I’ve never played with before. Among her remarkably varied CV? A stint as a Sports Psychologist. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), I shot a front nine of twenty over par (for you non-golfers, that is not ideal), then turned it around for a back nine of just two over.

The weather didn’t change. So what did?

My mindset. I found momentum, calm, a bit of control. Less frenetic shot-making and frustration. It’s fascinating – the power of what unfolds between our ears.

And it got me thinking about the new anti-social behaviour (ASB) initiative I’m heading up at ASEL. Because mindset may well be the key there too…

From the course to the community anti-social behaviour isn’t an easy egg to crack. It depends on so many conditions that feed a culture where
people think it’s okay to act in disruptive or destructive ways.

So much of the talk around ASB in the news is about crackdowns – more patrols, community protection notices, warnings, acceptable behaviour agreements. All valid (and genuinely important) routes. But I can’t help but feel they’re only part of the answer.

If we – not just ASEL, but society in general – can help someone shift from destructive to constructive. That’s got to be the goal, right? That’s real progress. I think a huge part of that shift lies in connection. True change comes when people feel connected to their community. When they see themselves as part of it. A lot of young people don’t. In fact, I’d hazard a guess that anyone engaging in ASB doesn’t feel that way. That
discord is central to their behaviour.

Creative solutions
A friend recently shared a story from her work as a Town Planner. She’d helped lead a project where young people were invited to help design and create public art. In the process – getting to use new materials, gathering rocks and old industrial bits off the beach – they went from closed-off and defensive to genuinely invested. These kids played an integral part in building something meaningful.

They had ownership. Belonging. It’s a small thing but also not. The sense of “I’m part of this’” is hugely powerful. At ASEL, we’re asking ourselves: what can we do to support this kind of mindset shift?

Working with young people
We’ve already had some encouraging experiences on this front. Education is core to fostering a sense of community, and just last week – members of our guarding operations team visited a school in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire. We spoke with pupils about what crime is, discussed how poor choices at a young age can impact future opportunities, and outlined what a security firm actually does.

Mostly importantly, we talked about what role they can play in their community. It was a gentle, age appropriate conversation, sure – but the feedback was fantastic. The session opened doors.

Because when it comes to switching people’s mindsets – education is part of the answer. Engagement is part of the answer. And yes, enforcement is part of the answer too.

ASEL: Stepping up alongside retailers
Our ASB initiative – called STEP UP – is coming along nicely. We’re working alongside customers and the wider community to create safer spaces. The hope is that we won’t just reduce the impact of ASB, but help prevent it too.

Retailers are essential partners because they see this issue up close every day. They’re not just passive recipients of security support – they’re proactive partners in making high streets safer and more welcoming for everyone.

We’re providing officers to support a wide range of retailers across multiple locations in a shared resource format over the summer holidays – free of charge. Now, while this is obviously a temporary offer as we prove our concept and get our teeth stuck in – being free for a period of time has to be a welcome bonus for some retailers. We know that, otherwise, red tape and cost barriers can get in the way.

And ultimately, we want to show we’re serious about tackling this together.

The past few weeks have shown me more than ever real change isn’t just about officers on the ground – it’s about what’s going on in people’s minds. That watery, wonderful thing between our ears that regulates our emotions, sparks our ideas, and drives our choices – on the golf course and in our communities.

We’re hoping to play our part in nudging it in the right direction.

If you’re interested in this kind of work, I’ll be talking more about it on the upcoming Retail Risk News podcast.

And I’m sure my ruminations will extend to other ASB issues in coming weeks and months.

For now Let’s start with some obvious points… – enjoy the heat!

Rosie Barron

Account Director