Tools and Powers

There are a variety of different tools available to respond to anti-social behaviour, ranging from enforcement action to supportive interventions aimed at changing behaviours and attitudes. The Councils response to anti-social behaviour aims to be proportionate to the incident and forms part of a joined up approach, enlisting the help and support of the appropriate agencies and services.

The key aims of any response are to:

• Enable the individual to recognise the consequences of their behaviour.
• Ensure that they change their behaviour.
• Protect victims, witnesses and the community.

Listed below are some examples of the main responses used to tackle and reduce anti-social behaviour:

Warnings

Warnings may be issued by the ASBRO to make perpetrators of anti-social behaviour aware of their behaviour and the impact that it is having on the people/ communities around them. The warning will be a written warning detailing the activities or behaviours that are considered to be anti-social.  The warning will inform the perpetrator that if the anti-social behaviour does not stop then further steps such as ABC’s, injunctions and ASBO’s will be explored to ensure that it does.

The Juvenile Referral Scheme (JRS)

The JRS is a scheme brought in by Dorset Police to tackle anti-social behaviour amongst young people under 18.  The scheme has been successfully introduced by ‘Blandford Safer Neighbourhood Team’ and works by the Police or PCSO’s identifying young people engaged in anti-social behaviour and/or associated under-age drinking. When an officer identifies a young person they will be asked for their details.  Following this a letter will be sent home to their parent/guardian outlining the circumstances to why the young person is receiving a warning letter, including dates and times of the occurrence.

It is hoped that a letter sent by the Police will deter any further occurrences.  If, however the young person is found engaged in any anti-social activity for a second time within a 12 month period a second letter will be sent home.  If the young person is found for a third time they will receive a third warning letter and the Councils ‘Anti-social behaviour reduction officer’ (ASBRO) will be informed.

With the parent/guardians co-operation the ASBRO will arrange a multi-agency meeting around the young person in an attempt to address the causes of their behaviour, often this will mean encouraging the young person to sign an ‘Acceptable behaviour contract’ (ABC).  Representatives from other appropriate agencies such as  The Youth Service, School and Drug and alcohol services may be invited to this meeting in order to look at what support can be offered to the young person and where necessary their families.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)

An Acceptable behaviour contract (or ABC) is a voluntary agreement, used mainly with 10-17 year olds.  They last for up to six months whereby the offender agrees not to participate in any activity that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, for example: graffiti and vandalism or noisy and abusive behaviour.  The contract should contain references to both discourage negative behaviour e.g. I will not swear at or intimidate passers by, along with references to encourage positive behaviour e.g. I will engage with a connexions worker.

If the individual does not agree to an ABC or if the conditions are breached then further action can be taken by applying for an anti-social behaviour order.

Parenting Contracts

Are supportive measures which offer a structured and balanced way for agencies to work with parents on a voluntary basis to improve the behaviour of a child or young person up to 17 years old.  The contract can include clauses that require a parent/ guardian to:

• Ensure that their child is attending school regularly;
• Ensure they know where there child is;
• Attend a parenting course

If an acceptable behaviour contract (ABC) is being considered for a young person, a parenting contract which reflects the ABC’s requirements may also be considered.

Youth Inclusion Support Panel (YISP)

The Youth Inclusion Support Panel (YISP) is a middle ground intervention service tasked by the Youth Offending Team.  The panel is made up of representatives from health, education, the Police and Local Authorities with the aim to prevent and divert children and young people away from anti-social behaviour.  The panel meets once a month to consider how their combined range of services can best help the young person and their family.

A positive package of support addressing issues such as bullying, substance misuse and lack of activities will be developed. Dedicated project workers of the YISP then work one to one with young people and their families to provide help and support, encouraging the young person to keep out of trouble and get back on track.

Designated public places orders (DPPOs)

Are a tool that can be used by local authorities to deal with the problems of alcohol related anti-social behaviour in public places. DPPO’s can be made in a public place where:

• Nuisance or annoyance to members of the public or a section of the public is being caused;

• Disorder is frequently occurring.

These powers make it easier for Local Authorities to designate places where restrictions on public drinking will apply.  In areas where a DPPO is in place Police have the powers to confiscate alcohol from adults, (over 18’s) where necessary. If an officer suspects that a person has recently drunk or intends to drink alcohol in a DPPO, in order to prevent public nuisance and disorder, police can require an adult to:

• Stop drinking alcohol;
• Hand over the containers they are drinking from (sealed or unsealed);
• Hand over any other containers believed to contain alcohol.

It is not an offence to consume alcohol within a designated area, but failure to comply with an officers request to stop drinking and surrender alcohol, without reasonable excuse, is

Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)

Anti-social behaviour orders or ASBOs are civil orders made by the court which prohibit the perpetrator from specific anti-social acts and from entering defined areas on a map (exclusion zones). An order lasts for a minimum of two years. If the order is breached the offence becomes a criminal act which can be punishable by a fine or up to five years in prison or both.

The purpose of an ASBO is to protect the public from behaviour that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment or alarm or distress, not to punish the perpetrator. Therefore ASBOs are community-based orders that are designed to encourage local communities to become actively involved in reporting crime and anti-social behaviour.