§ Vernon CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the extension of powers to be made available under the provisions of the Antisocial Behaviour Bill to(a) community support officers and (b) accredited persons. [117890]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthSubject to Parliamentary approval the Anti-social Behaviour Bill will extend the following powers to community support officers (CSOs) and accredited persons:
CSOs only
The power to disperse groupsBoth CSOs and accredited persons
The power to issue a fixed penalty notice for graffiti and fly-posting.The power to issue a fixed penalty notice to parents for truancy.The power to stop cyclists in order to issue a fixed penalty notice for cycling on a footpath.Accredited persons only
Accredited persons will also be given the power to issue penalty notices for disorder (CSOs already have this power). As they do not have the power to detain, accredited persons will not be able to issue penalty notices for the offences of disorderly behaviour while drunk in a public place and being drunk in a highway, other public place or licensed premises. They will, though, be able to issue penalty notices for the following offences:
Throwing fireworks in a thoroughfare.Knowingly giving false alarm to a fire brigade.Trespassing on a railway.Throwing stones etc at trains and other things on railways.Buying or attempting to buy alcohol for consumption in bar in licensed premises by a person under 18.Wasting police time or giving false report.Using public telecommunications systems for sending messages known to be false in order to cause annoyance.Behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
§ Vernon CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that(a) the police, (b) housing associations and (c) local councils are informed of (i) the powers available to them 1053W to tackle anti-social behaviour and (ii) the powers to be made available to them under the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill. [117892]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe National Director of the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and members of her team visited many Local Authority areas where they have met with local councils, police, residents, attended public meetings and spoken at conferences to highlight both current and new powers available for tackling antisocial behaviour.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Unit is now considering a range of options, to look how to ensure all relevant people and organisations are aware of the powers available to them.