Representing Central Government in the South East

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Representing Central Government in the South East
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Julie Wootton Regional Anti-Social Behaviour
Manager
Anti-Social Behaviour
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
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What is Anti-Social Behaviour?

• Anti-social behaviour (ASB) includes a variety of
  behaviour covering a whole complex of selfish and
  unacceptable activity that can blight the lives
  of individuals and communities eg
• nuisance neighbours,
• rowdy and nuisance behaviour,
• vandalism,
• litter and graffiti,
• yobbish behaviour
• intimidating groups taking over public spaces.
• The legal definition of anti social behaviour is
  
• 'Acting in a manner that causes or is likely to
  cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or
  more persons not of the same household.' 

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Why does Anti-Social Behaviour happen?

• Many factors have been identified that, while
  they do not cause anti-social behaviour, do
  increase the risk of it happening.
• 4 main areas
• Family Environment
• Schooling and Educational Attainment
• Community life/accommodation/employment
• Personal life and individual factors

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National Government

• Home Office Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime
  Prevention Unit
• Department for Children Schools and Families
  Youth Task Force
• Communities and Local Government Housing
  Management
• Others via cross Government Anti-Social Behaviour
  Board

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National Level

• Cutting Crime A New Partnership 2008-11
  identifies "continued pressure on anti-social
  behaviour" as a key area for focus.
• bringing all areas of the country up to the
  standard of the best in tackling ASB
• Government will provide active support to
  agencies, improving knowledge about the most
  effective and appropriate use of tools and powers
• a fresh drive on the use of supportive
  interventions that address the underlying factors
  contributing to anti-social behaviour alongside
  robust enforcement.
• PSA 23, Priority Action 3 Tackle the crime,
  disorder and anti-social behaviour issues of
  greatest importance in each locality, increasing
  public confidence in the local agencies involved
  in dealing with these issues.

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How measured?

• Public confidence in local agencies dealing with
  the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that
  matter to people in their local area
• Perceptions of anti-social behaviour
• Noisy neighbours or loud parties
• Teenagers hanging around on the streets
• Rubbish or litter lying around
• Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage
  to property
• People using or dealing drugs
• People being drunk or rowdy in public places
• Abandoned or burnt out cars

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How is ASB managed locally?

• Each area has a Crime and Disorder Reduction
  Partnership (CDRP) responsible for community
  safety including ASB and developing and
  delivering a local Community Safety Plan based on
  local priorities
• Most areas have an Anti-Social Behaviour
  Co-ordinator responsible for co-ordinating work
  on preventing and tackling ASB. Involves both
  support and enforcement activity.
• Work on ASB is very cross-cutting and Children
  and Youth Services, Voluntary and Community
  Organisations, including faith groups have a
  vital role to play in preventing and tackling
  ASB.

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Statutory Duties

• Section 10 of the Children Act (2004) requires
  local authorities and their relevant partners to
  co-operate to improve childrens wellbeing.
  Childrens Trusts need to focus rigorously on
  prevention and early identification of children
  with additional needs, including those at risk of
  falling into anti-social behaviour or crime, by
  working closely with all partners, including the
  police and youth justice agencies.
• Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (as
  amended by Police Justice Act 2006) requires
  local authorities to consider crime and disorder
  reduction, including antisocial behaviour, and
  drug and alcohol misuse, in the exercise of all
  their duties, activities and decision-making.
  (summarised from the legislation)

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Benefits of Working in Partnership

• Include
• By sharing information - more likely to find most
  appropriate solution for the individual and the
  community, and stop problems from escalating.
• Reduce likelihood of duplication and gaps in
  addressing the needs of a young person
• Better use of resources available
• Allows more targeting of resources
• Interventions more likely to succeed

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Future..

• How are you going to optimise the opportunities
  to work together to prevent ASB and achieve
  positive outcomes for young people?
• Who can you talk to today about this?
• Contact details
• Julie Wootton
• Julie.wootton_at_gose.gsi.gov.uk
• 01483 882457
• GOSE website www.gose.gov.uk
• GOSE Community Safety E-Forum http//eforums.gos.
  gov.uk/gose