The
ASB Action website is part of the Government’s commitment to
ensuring those suffering harassment or intimidation feel
confident they know who to turn to. The website allows the
public to find the person or team in their area who can tackle
local problems with anti-social behaviour.
The
same interactive website also includes the latest data showing
what public perceptions of anti-social behaviour are in each
area and which of the many powers available to hit back at
yobbish behaviour are being used. It even allows them to
compare their local area with others across the country meaning
they can demand further action if not enough is being
done.
Home Secretary said:
“No
one should assume anti-social behaviour is a problem they
should have to live with.
“Giving the public easy access to support and ways of
holding authorities to account when they are not doing well
enough is vital if we are to give the public confidence that
tough action is being taken on antisocial behaviour.
“We
have given local areas a raft of tools and powers to tackle
this problem and many areas have done excellent work, but local
people expect action and now every member of the public can see
what is being done.”
The
data listed on the website includes the latest information on
the number of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)
issued.
As
part of wider and ongoing work with local partnerships across
the country the Home Office has agreed to prioritise 16 local
partnerships to support them in tackling anti-social behaviour,
increasing the use of ASB powers and in lowering perceptions of
anti-social behaviour.
The
ASB Action Squad, formed by the Home Office, will be working
closely with these and other areas to ensure they are fully
supported and have the expertise to use all the powers at their
disposal in a way that responds to the needs and concerns of
local people. The priority areas have been chosen because
they have low use of tools and powers and high public
perception of ASB.
Overall the British Crime Survey shows that the proportion of
people who think there is a problem with anti-social
behaviour in their area has fallen since 2002, thanks in
large part to the increased use and effectiveness of the tools
and powers we have introduced.
Councils and the police now have more powers to deal with
anti-social behaviour than ever before:
- the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 gave the
police and other; authorities powers to issue ASBOs and
introduced parenting orders;
- the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 gave police the
right to disperse crowds of people in areas where anti-social
behaviour is a problem, and also gave landlords the right
to evict tenants who persistently engage in such behaviour;
and
- the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 gave
police the power to close premises which are regularly being
used by drug dealers and users.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The ASB Action website is
found at www.direct.gov.uk/antisocialbehaviourh
2. The website uses data on
public perception of ASB from the Department of Communities and
Local Government (DCLG) Placed Based Survey of local people’s
perceptions of services in English local authorities. It also
includes data collected from local areas on their usage of the
tools and powers available for tackling anti-social behaviour
and the latest data on the number of ASBOs issued (up to
2007).
3. Since 2003/4 there have been at least 89,579 uses of
tools and powers designed to tackle anti-social behaviour and
14,974 ASBOs issued since April 1999. Full details of the use
of ASBOs, including the number breached, can be found at:
http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/asbos/asbos2.htm
4. The Home Office will
be working closely to support 16 areas respond to local
concerns about ASB in the form of help and advice from the ASB
Action Squads. The areas are:
* Ashfield
* Birmingham
* Brent
* Dartford and
Gravesham
* Dudley
* Ealing
* Enfield
* Hillingdon
* Knowsley
* Lewisham
* Reading UA
* Redbridge
* Sefton
* Tamworth
* Wigan
*
Wellingborough
