Communities Secretary John Denham issued a rallying call on 9th February for an army of community champions to challenge anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods. Full details of the announcement can be located here.
Mr Denham is determined that people who want to make a difference in their community have the training and hands-on support they need to work together to solve local problems. That is why he opening up a new programme of Government training to anyone suffering from anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood. He wants to make clear that the Government is on their side and will back those who are working to make a difference.
This builds on the Government's Community Crime Fighters Programme which means that nearly 4000 members of the public have now been recruited and trained by the Home Office as part of the Justice Seen Justice Done campaign. The Programme is a training and support scheme for people who are already active in their community and who want to know more about what they can do to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
Training events being run in every region across England will help equip people with the confidence and know-how to join together with their neighbours, police and council staff to take a stand against anti-social behaviour - an issue that can gnaw away at the fabric of strong communities.
These events will offer practical advice to local people and front-line staff on what can be done and how they can work together to tackle neighbourhood anti-social behaviour issues. They will pass on lessons from those who have succeeded in bringing about change through the power of collective action.
Details of the events can be accessed here.
This call to action is being supported by a major campaign, which gets underway this week, to give 10 million households across the country the information they need to take action against anti-social behaviour. A new booklet being delivered to homes in areas where anti-social behaviour is a priority for local people and the council advises residents how they can get help if they are being affected by anti-social behaviour and how they can challenge their local police, council or social landlord if they aren't satisfied with how it is being tackled.
A copy of the booklet is reproduced below:
ASB Leaflet (Feb 2010)
The booklet explains what people can expect from the police and other agencies and how they can work with them to solve problems in their neighbourhood. This follows a leaflet drop to more than six million households in 60 areas across the country in November as part of the Justice Seen, Justice Done campaign and comes on top of an extra £6m of funding given direct to 130 areas to address their particular local priorities on anti-social behaviour.
Perceptions of levels of anti-social behaviour have fallen to the lowest level since records began but anti-social behaviour remains a top priority. The Government is committed to driving down anti-social behaviour by supporting victims and making all local partners take fast and effective action against it.
There are a range of measures, including ASBOs, crack house closure orders and dispersals of groups, available for the police, local authorities, housing officers, social landlords and other front line practitioners, to use, and Government expects them to do so.
