§ 10. Mrs. Joan Humble (Blackpool, North and Fleetwood)What steps he is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour. [98766]
§ The Minister for Policing, Crime Reduction and Community Safety (Mr. John Denham)We will shortly be publishing a White Paper on antisocial behaviour which will be followed by an antisocial behaviour Bill. That will build on existing measures to ensure that we have legislation in place to tackle antisocial behaviour We have also established an antisocial behaviour unit in the Home Office to take the lead in ensuring that new and existing legislation is used to good effect.
§ Mrs. HumbleI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. He will be aware of the success achieved by Blackpool police in reducing the antisocial behaviour of young people by working closely with other agencies. When the individual support orders that are proposed in the Criminal Justice Bill are introduced, will he ensure that they lead to genuine collaborative work between the police and social services so that those young people do not reoffend?
§ Mr. DenhamI congratulate the police in Blackpool for their use of the interim antisocial behaviour orders. They have obtained seven since the new powers came into effect at the beginning of December. It is certainly true that we have not always had the support that we would have liked from social services departments up and down the country for antisocial behaviour orders. The new individual support order is designed to address the causes of a young person's offending behaviour and, for that reason, social services departments should become more active and more supportive of the measure.
§ Bob Spink (Castle Point)Why did the Government take away from police the power to remove unopened cans and bottles of alcohol from young people and children in public places? When will they reverse that decision?
§ Mr. DenhamIt is important that the police have the power to remove such alcohol from young people. The Licensing Bill, which is before Parliament, will give them that right.