"An Appointment with the Doctor"

on .. Anti-Social Behaviour

Some of the correspondence sent to me and the occurrences they report are unbelievable.
Many instances relate to harassment from 'problem' neighbours - which is a situation from which it is almost impossible to escape.

Also reported to me is the public's belief in the inability of the Police to help them with their difficulties .. and of the Crown Prosecution Service to bring an element of 'justice' into their lives.

I am having talks with both organisations in the hope of finding better ways of resolving problems that are hugely distressing to those concerned .. although perhaps regarded in statistical terms as 'minor' in the wider community.

www.direct.gov.uk/localcrime

Police, Local Authorities, and Social Landlords have a ranhe of powers to combat Anti-Social Behaviour. They are there to give you confidence that swift and effective action can be taken.

Watch-out for a purple leaflet "Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour" which will be delivery to you, shortly.
It will explain_

• what can be done

• your rights

• where to go for help

• the role you can play

The government's new powers, aimed at tackling the problem of under-age drinking in England and Wales, making it easier for police to confiscate alcohol from youths and to move on groups of teenagers who are causing trouble, come into force today - Friday 30th Jan

A police officer will now be able to seize alcohol from suspected under-age drinkers without having to prove they intended to consume it themselves.

He will also be able to issue a so-called "direction to leave" order to children as young as 10 who are causing trouble - until now only those over 16 could receive one

The government has also created a new offence for under-18s of persistently possessing alcohol in a public place.

Finally, any shopkeepers who are caught selling alcohol to under-age drinkers twice in three months will immediately lose their licence - a toughening of the law from "three strikes" to "two strikes".

“The majority of young people are model citizens but there are a minority that are not.
These powers will make it easier for police to take tough action against those groups whose behaviour can affect a whole community.
The government is also providing young people with activities and places to go to, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights, which would give them 'positive alternatives to drinking'."
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell

"The Police Service welcomes these new measures to combat the problem of underage drinkers and those supplying alcohol to them.
The ability to remove alcohol from underage drinkers and take action against those who, through vulnerability or lack of personal responsibility, regularly misbehave under the influence of alcohol will assist the police in dealing with the complexities of alcohol misuse and misbehaviour."
Commander O'Brien, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead spokesman on licensing.

West Mercia Police - and officers at Kidderminster Station -  wish to reassure local residents that Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is treated seriously and features prominently in their policing plan.

• Locally, the police in Wyre Forest (WF) are introducing a new database this month that will assist in identifying and resolving repeat victims of ASB
  
• The number of ASB incidents reported to the police in WF has been marginally less over the last 12 months compared to the previous year.
  
• When ASB by youths is reported, the Police can utilise a scheme where warning letters are sent to parents which identifies the wrong doing. 
  Should the youngsters come to attention again an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) may be initiated.
  Ultimately an ASBO (and banning orders) may be applied for.
  
• CSO Vanessa Halford has launched an initiative in WF to tackle youth ASB 
  
• The Community Safety Partnership has a specific action plan in relation to tackling ASB

This government website has some useful information on anti social behaviour (ASB) 

More information on levels and types of crime in West Mercia and Wyre Forest is available at this interactive website.

MPs informed about Family Intervention Projects

A scheme under consideration is for "Families from hell" to be placed into residential care, MPs have heard.

Ms. Louise Casey (the government's 'neighbourhood crime tsar') told the Home Affairs Select Committee that it was a small number of troubled families who were causing "phenomenal" problems by letting their children run riot, costing up to £330,000 a year (in total administrative costs - per family).

Family Intervention Projects - the placing of entire families into care - would cost less than this figure and would allow agencies to provide tough controls and offer more support.

“They are few in number but the worst parents were "deliberately choosing not to cope" with their children and the problems they cause in communities are phenomenal. 
You have got to crack down on the very small number of absolutely problematic families that cause the most havoc in communities. 
That varies from the lowest level of disorder that we call anti-social behaviour to the nastiest crimes. 
I am very clear that we need to have residential projects that would almost equate with taking a family into care."
Ms. Casey.

Family Intervention Projects cost £20,000 - with 66% of families who have experienced them no longer involved in any anti-social behaviour.
Department for Children, Schools and Families.

© Independent Kidderminster Hospital & Health Concern 1995-2010
(webdesign@chaddesley-corbett.co.uk)