HC Deb 29 October 2003 vol 412 cc271-4W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources he has provided to(a) Sefton council and (b) the Merseyside Police Authority for monitoring anti-social behaviour. [132995]

Ms Blears

For this financial year 2003–04, the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (ASBU) provided £700,000 to the Government offices of the north-west to spend on anti-social behaviour matters. The ASBU did not specify on what specific activities they should spend this money.

Sefton have not been allocated any Home Office funds directly for anti-social behaviour initiatives, but a number of schemes should have an effect on anti-social behaviour. The Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) have allocated £30,000 to develop neighbourhood CCTV systems and a further £19,500 is being used to tackle alcohol-related disorder and improve education and awareness, both of which should have a "knock on" effect on anti-social behaviour.

Under the Small Retailers scheme, £28,971 was awarded to Sefton and is being used to fund CCTV systems for a number of retailers in the Derby and Linacre and Netherton and Owell wards, and it is hoped that this will deter theft, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

For 2003–04, we also provided £200,000 to Liverpool City council for partnership working on anti-social behaviour initiatives. While Merseyside Police were not the direct recipient of this funding, they will obviously benefit from this injection of money, and via the Liverpool Crime and Reduction Partnership will have influence on how this money is best spent.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the anti-social behaviour units within police authorities. [132996]

Ms Blears

All local agencies need to work together if anti-social behaviour is to be tackled effectively and the Police Service has a key role to play. This is reflected in the National Policing Plan, which makes clear that dealing with anti-social behaviour is an overarching policing priority. While we have not carried out any formal assessment of the way in which police forces are tackling anti-social behaviour, it is one aspect being examined in the baseline assessments of police forces currently being carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). The results will be available in the spring. Anti-social behaviour is also being addressed during HMIC's inspections of Police Basic Command Units.

Huw Irranca-Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the efforts of(a) police forces in Wales, (b) the South Wales police force and (c) other forces in the United Kingdom to engage with the programme to tackle anti-social behaviour. [133500]

Ms Blears

All local agencies need to work together if anti-social-behaviour is to be tackled effectively and the Police Service has a key role to play. This is reflected in the National Policing Plan, which makes clear that dealing with anti-social behaviour is an overarching policing priority. While we have not carried out any formal assessment of the way in which police forces are tackling anti-social behaviour either in Wales or more generally, it is one aspect being examined in the baseline assessments of police forces in England and Wales currently being carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). The results will be available in the spring. Anti-social behaviour is also being addressed during HMIC's inspections of Police Basic Command Units.

Huw Irranca-Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with colleagues in the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of anti-social behaviour initiatives with particular reference to(a) pilot residential parenting schemes, (b) nuisance neighbours panels, (c) criminal justice interventions programme areas, (d) Operation Scrap-it, (e) Operation Gate-it and (f) Operation Scrub-it. [133501]

Ms Blears

The work in this area is being taken forward by the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit at the Home Office. The unit was set up in January 2003. Staff within the unit have undertaken visits to different parts of England and Wales gathering information from communities and practitioners about their anti-social behaviour priorities.

This resulted in the introduction of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill and the publication of the White Paper, `Respect and Responsibilities' (March 2003). This was followed up by the launch of the Action Plan (10 October 2003) which outlines the initiatives mentioned above. The powers in the Bill relating to local authority powers to get graffiti off street furniture are a devolved issue (the powers will be given to 12 authorities in England in the first instance). It is for the Welsh Assembly to decide whether authorities in Wales will adopt these powers.

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on anti-social behaviour. [133999]

Ms Blears

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a priority for Government. The Home Office published an Action Plan "Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Together" on 14 October 2003. The action plan sets out existing and new work across the Home Office and other Government Departments which contributes to the drive to tackle anti-social behaviour across England and Wales.

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he recommends police forces use to deter anti-social behaviour. [134000]

Ms Blears

As the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan launched on 14 October makes clear, effective action to tackle anti-social behaviour requires effective partnership working between all local agencies including the police. The police have a very important role to play, and tackling anti-social behaviour is a key national policing priority under the National Policing Plan (NPP). Forces need to set out as part of their annual local plan and strategic plans under the NPP how they are going to address anti-social behaviour.

The response of the police, working with its partners, will depend on the nature of the local problems. In responding to those problems, the police need to ensure that they are using the National Intelligence Model to identify and target action against anti-social behaviour; have in place agreed information sharing protocols with other agencies; ensure they are using their resources effectively, including the Special Constabulary and Community Support Officers; be clear about how the various interventions available, for example, acceptable behaviour contracts, anti-social behaviour orders, fixed penalty notices, can best be used as part of a local strategy. Police forces should also, with partner agencies, be considering how they will use the new powers which will become available under the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill.

Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the aims are of the pilot scheme in Manchester in which people guilty of anti-social behaviour remain on housing benefit and accept training; and what plans there are for similar pilots in the North East of England. [134199]

Ms Blears

The Foundations pilot developed by Manchester city council, Irwell Valley Housing Association and the children's charity NCH is based on a NCH project that has been running in Dundee for the last five years.

The pilot aims to provide intensive support to families who have a history of committing anti-social behaviour. It aims to tackle the causes of this behaviour and establish some stability for children living within the families. There are strict rules and high expectations of each family involved in this pilot. Each family will understand that certain behaviour will not be tolerated and would result in eviction from the scheme.

At present there are no projects similar to the Dundee project in the North East of England. However a number of local authorities and their partners provide tenancy support and at least one is developing plans for a 'Dundee type' project.

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