Community Safety
Anti Social Behaviour
Within this section you can find out about different
types of anti social behavoiur, including:
The definition of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) is open to
interpretation and discussion. The definition that tends to
be used is the one used in Section 1 of the Crime & Disorder
Act 1998 to define the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO). This
defines the effects of the behaviour rather than the behaviour
itself:
'The person has acted in an anti-social manner, that is to
say, in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment,
alarm or distress to one or more person not of the same
household.'
Government initiatives to tackling ASB
In October 2003 the Government launched the Together campaign to support
local agencies and residents to tackle anti-social behaviour in
their communities.
In January 2006 the Government also launched the Respect action plan which
aims to deepen the governments current drive to clamp-down on
anti-social behaviour and address a wider culture of public
disrespect.
Section 17 of The Crime & Disorder Act 1998
Section 17 of the Crime and
Disorder Act 1998 states that, "without prejudice to any other
obligation imposed upon it, it shall be the duty of each authority
to exercise its various functions with due regard to the likely
effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do
all that it reasonably can to prevent, crime and disorder in its
area."
It applies to a local authority, a joint authority, a police
authority, a National Park authority and the Broads authority.
Therefore, the Act requires local authorities and others to
consider crime and disorder reduction while exercising all of their
duties. This reflects the reality that there are crime and/or
disorder implications in decisions made across the full range of
local authority services, and to correct the current situation
under which these implications are often not recognised at the time
decisions are taken, with expensive consequences.
Section 17 reinforces the requirement for mainstreaming
preventative work. Crime Concern have produced
two very useful documents which include good process and practice
for local authorities implementing Section 17, both are available
to download below.
Review of partnership provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act
1998 (January 2006)
A review of the partnership provisions of the Crime and Disorder
Act 1998 was carried out by the Home Office, the Local Government
Association, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the
Association of Police Authorities between November 2004 and January
2005.
The review concluded that Section 17 is still immensely relevant
but that the time has come formally to broaden it's definition to
require agencies to also take account of anti-social behaviour,
behaviour adversely affecting the environment and substance misuse.
In addition, the Home Secretary intends to take a power to add to
the list of agencies to which section 17 applies by means of
secondary legislation.
The review still supports a localised approach but has underlined,
during the past eight years it has become apparent that there is a
need for a set of standards that clearly sets out what is expected
of each partnership and the roles and responsibilities of the
inpidual partners. National standards will establish a consistent
approach to partnership working across all CDRPs/CSPs in England
and Wales. Compliance with these national standards will be
compulsory and will cover a range of key issues which have been
addressed in these findings.