28/10/2004

Blunkett unveils extra powers to help tackle yobs

New powers to help parish councils tackle yobbish anti-social and environmental crime have been announced today.

The plans will extend the role of parish councils in tackling anti-social behaviour, and will legislate "at the earliest opportunity" to give them powers to issue fixed penalty notices for offences which blight communities like dog-fouling, graffitti, litter, fly-posting and night-time noise.

Civil courts will also be given new powers to engage individuals issued with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) in drug treatment under plans currently being developed by the Home Office. The move is designed to reinforce existing court and police powers to order the drug testing and treatment of offenders, to help break the link between drugs and crime.

New figures out today have shown that an estimated 100,000 cases of anti-social behaviour, with more than 2,600 anti social behaviour orders and 418 dispersal orders, have been brought over the past year.

Mr Blunkett said today: "We know that too many communities are still blighted by anti social behaviour, with the yobbish behaviour of a few thugs ruining the quality of life of whole communities."

He added: "Supporting and protecting victims and witnesses is an essential part of our work to tackle crime, and this can be especially true of anti-social behaviour, where the offenders often live next door. We need local people to take a stand, to say that 'enough is enough'. Yesterday Parliament agreed my plans to extend the powers of the new Victims' Commissioner to champion the victims of anti-social behaviour, and we announced earlier this week plans to give extra protection in court to witnesses of thuggery and disorder."

At the same time, the government announced a huge extension of its Together campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour, including plans to engage anti-social people in drug treatment, and signalled a renewed commitment to tackle thuggery and support victims and witnesses.

Up to 50 communities across the country have been designated as 'Together Action Areas' and are set to get extra help to tackle anti-social behaviour. In these neighbourhoods local authorities, the police and local people will focus efforts to tackle, not tolerate, anti-social behaviour head on.

(gmcg/sp)

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