Crime and Public Protection
Steering Group
Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy Item no:
– Update
6
Report by:
Errol Lawrence
Date:
03 November 2004
Contact
Officer:
Errol Lawrence
Telephone:
020 7934 9803
Summary:
Job
title:
Emai
l:
Community Safety Policy
Officer
[email protected]
This report provides an update on the Londonwide Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Strategy, which
sets out proposals to address the problems of ASB
for 2005/6 to 2006/7. This is the final
strategy, which has been developed by 11 crossLondon agencies with shared responsibilities for
tackling ASB at a regional level, and aims to
support partners’ efforts to build on existing
work in this area and to develop and implement
new actions where necessary. Following discussion
with stakeholders and public consultation the
document is ready for final agreement and signoff by partners, with publication to follow.
Report Page 2
Recommendation
s:
1. That the Crime and Public Protection
Steering Group commends the ASB strategy to
Leaders’ Committee for sign-off.
2. The main points are that:

The strategy reflects contributions and
comments by partners and proposes actions
by them, which were identified during the
consultation process.

The proposed actions (set out in Chapter
3) are the result of consultation and
discussion (in ALG’s case amongst
divisions and members, reflecting ALG’S
developing business objectives and
priorities and which can be fed into
discussions around the next business
plan).

The strategy elucidates shared concerns
about ASB (and the recognition that it can
blight the lives of individuals and
communities - especially those who may
already be excluded and disadvantaged).

Partners responsible for the strategy
support joint working to tackle ASB at a
strategic level and in a pro-active
manner, which will make it easier to
contain problems rather than transferring
them elsewhere.

There is agreement amongst partners on the
strategy’s aims, research objectives and
thematic approach. There is agreement
that the emphasis should be on the
application of local solutions to locallyidentified needs.

Partners agree that the strategy should
highlight issues which could be addressed
through partnership action at a regional,
sub-regional, or local level and, where
gaps are identified, could be used to
develop shared action plans.

There is agreement that there is a need
for longer-term funding to address ASB and
greater consistency from the Government.
Report Page 3
Report Page 4
Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy – Update
London Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy
Background
1. In September 2003 the inter-agency Crime and Disorder Plus
steering group1 agreed that there would be benefit in
developing a single, shared anti-social behaviour (ASB)
strategy for London. 11 regional partner agencies2 jointly
developed the framework and a research team from Kings’
College London, led by Professor Mike Hough, was
commissioned to coordinate the work. The strategy aims to:


Reduce ASB and to enhance the quality of life of all
people who live in, work and visit London;
Promote social inclusion, and ensure no detrimental
impacts on any particular population groups.
2. The ALG agreed with its partners that the strategy will not
be a tasking document and is not concerned with setting
targets, performance indicators or actions for local
practitioners. Rather, it will highlight issues which could
be addressed through partnership action at a regional, subregional, or local level and, on the basis of gaps
identified, could be used to develop shared action plans.
The emphasis is on local solutions to locally-identified
needs.
3. The strategy incorporates research findings on ASB, which
provide an insight into the ways in which different forms of
ASB affect Londoners and the various contexts and locations
in which ASB occurs, and provides a balanced response to ASB
by reflecting three broad programme areas: education,
prevention and enforcement.
4. To achieve this, regional agencies participated in a
consultation exercise to clarify the vital issues. This
consultation engaged a wide range of stakeholders and
practitioners, including ASB Coordinators, Crime and
Disorder Reduction Partnerships Chairs, Chief Executives,
Community Safety Managers and Borough Commanders.
Chaired by the GLA, this brings together London organisations to coordinate
action on crime and community safety.
2 Greater London Authority, Government Office for London, Metropolitan Police
Service, Metropolitan Police Authority, Transport for London, Association of
London Government, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Housing
Corporation, British Transport Police, City of London Police, Youth Justice
Board.
1
Report Page 5
ALG Response
5. Members of the ALG Crime and Public Protection Steering
Group considered an early draft of the strategy at their
meeting in February 2004 and the observations of the
Steering Group were supplemented by detailed written
comments from boroughs to inform a proposed ALG response to
the draft strategy (Chief Executives’ Circular 32/04 invited
comments on the consultation document). This ALG response
was agreed at Leaders’ Committee in June 2004. The main
points made in the response are set out in Appendix 1.
6. In June, members also agreed that a further update report
should be submitted to Leaders’ Committee before publication
of the strategy.
7. After further consultation and discussion amongst partners,
the final strategy has been drawn up, which shows how the
regional agencies can:







Identify roles, activities, strategic priorities and
opportunities for action;
Address policy gaps and overcome barriers and
inhibitors to delivery;
Identify key strategic issues facing Londoners (and
visitors to London) in relation to ASB;
Support local communities and vulnerable groups;
Support local level practitioners in ASB work;
Make constructive recommendations for future policies
and activities in the region;
Act on thematic issues such as data sharing, training,
IT solutions and transport.
8. The overall approach set
tackling ASB by striking
prevention - enforcement
occurred, and preventive
first place.
out in the strategy focuses on
a balance between enforcement and
tactics, to respond to ASB that has
work, to stop it happening in the
9. The final strategy proposes action for individual partner
agencies (set out in chapter 3 of the document). In the
ALG’s case, action reflects developing ALG business
objectives and priorities and will be fed into discussions
around the next business plan. This is presented in tabular
form in Appendix 2.
10.
The main issues for the ALG in the plan of proposed
action, concern:
Report Page 6





Prioritising of ASB issues in workstreams and member
groupings
Providing guidance and training related to ASB
Considering the direction of specific funding towards ASB
Flagging up ASB issues, especially with regard to work in
the public realm
Encouraging and supporting local agencies to tackle ASB
Equalities Considerations
11.
Tackling anti-social behaviour and improving the public
realm is a priority for all London boroughs. Assessments on
the impact on BME, Refugee and Asylum Seeker communities,
the disabled and those with special care needs should be
considered. During consultation, partners engaged in
focused work with specific groups to identify ASB issues.
As part of the Implementation Plan, the GLA will mount an
equality impact assessment to assess the impact of the
strategy’s programme of work on minority groups.
Background Papers
12.
Full details of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and
information about the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan and
the Together Campaign can be found on the HMSO and Home
Office websites. These websites set out the practical help
central Government is giving to councils and other local
agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour and their
responsibilities in the light of these changes.
The ASB
strategy is available on the ALG website.
http://www.hmso.gov.uk
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Appendices
Appendix 1: Main Points of the ALG response to the draft
London ASB Strategy
Appendix 2: Table of Proposed Action