“We’re Not Having It”: U.K. Home Secretary Announces New Measures to Tackle Anti-Social Behavior

A new Action Squad to help police and local agencies make full use of all the tools and powers available to tackle anti-social behavior in every community, backed by £255,000 of new funding, was announced today in a major speech by U.K. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

Addressing an audience of police, anti-social behavior coordinators and housing officers, the Home Secretary called on them to make use of all the tools and powers available to tackle the seven per cent of persistent troublemakers who cause the most problems. She praised a successful project run by Essex Police known as Operation Leopard that has seen a 100 per cent success rate in targeting the hardcore of repeat offenders.

New figures published today show that early interventions to tackle anti-social behavior have increased significantly with local agencies getting involved earlier. This approach was set out in the recently published Youth Taskforce Action Plan which had a strong emphasis on early intervention. The figures show an increase of 258 per cent in the use of early ASB interventions, such as Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, Parenting Orders and Individual Support Orders, which effectively put a stop to problems before they get out of control and before Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are required.

Other measures outlined by the Home Secretary include:

* Better joined up working by local authorities and statutory agencies to share information and work together to expose wider criminal behavior of persistent anti-social behavior offenders, including checks for benefit and council tax fraud, television license evasion and vehicle insurance dodging.

* A joint review by the Home Office and the Department for Transport which will ask passengers, staff and operators what they think about current measures to address anti-social behavior on public transport and determine whether more can be done.

* More action on poor parenting to intervene early at the first sign of problems to deliver the lasting changes that communities expect: courts will be required to consider making a Parenting Order when giving an ASBO to 10-17 year olds.

* New investment for the “Taking A Stand Awards”, jointly supported by the Home Office and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, to celebrate and support members of the community, including young people, making a difference in their communities.

* Linked to the work of the Action Squad, anti-social behavior practitioners in every area will be given definitive guidance about every tool at their disposal and how best to use them. Produced with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Youth Justice Board, the document is designed to help them make best use of existing tools and to support victims and witnesses.

In a further measure, the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, which is expected to receive Royal Assent today, will extend crackhouse closure order powers to cover more serious types of anti-social behavior. It will also include a statutory requirement to review ASBOs on all under 18 year-olds after one year to ensure the ASBO is working and to pave the way for other interventions if necessary (currently there is no automatic review).

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

“People shouldn’t have to put up with anti-social behavior. We have put in place the teams, the powers and the know-how so that every community benefits from effective action that works. The Government is firmly on the side of communities where people have had enough and there will be no escape for persistent offenders. If you can’t behave properly it won’t just be the police watching you, but local councils, housing benefit officers, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the TV Licensing authority.

“The figures I have published today are further evidence of the progress we have made. Where tough enforcement is needed it is happening, but we are getting in there early, nipping problems in the bud and putting a stop to them before they get of out control.

“I also want to make clear the importance of tackling the causes of bad behavior like poor parenting and intervening early at the first sign of problems to deliver the lasting changes that communities expect.”

This focus on early intervention in the Home Secretary’s speech is in line with the approach outlined in the recent Youth Taskforce Action Plan which promoted strong sanctions where problems occur, but also non negotiable help to address the causes of problems and more effective prevention - in particular through the creation of Challenge and Support projects to respond to early warning signs of bad behavior.

Children’s, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls said:

“All parts of the community - including young people who are themselves often the victims - want to see anti-social behavior dealt with swiftly and effectively. Where young people are getting into trouble we need to tackle it - but also address the root causes of that bad behavior so it is not repeated. So I want to see parenting orders and other measures being considered alongside anti-social behavior orders where appropriate.

“Through the Youth Taskforce, led by Anne Weinstock, we will work closely with the Home Office and others to make sure communities, including young people, get the response they deserve to the thoughtless anti-social behavior of a small minority.”

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said:

“It is important to address people’s concerns about anti-social behavior on public transport and to take action to stamp it out. By engaging the public on their views and working with transport operators and staff, our aim is to better understand what works well in practice and identify where potential improvements can be made.”

Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears said:

“The majority of decent people want to stand up to the minority of people who create noise, vandalism, drunkenness, and graffiti, and the Government will support them. Tackling anti-social behavior is a crucial part of improving where we live, strengthening communities and helping people to feel more secure. We will continue to work with landlords and all our local partners to prevent problems getting out of hand, to enforce the law where we face challenges and to support communities throughout.”

Source: Home Office

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