Frontline workers and community leaders from across London are coming together today to learn how best to tackle the anti-social behaviour blighting their communities.
As part of the Government's TOGETHER campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour, staff from police, councils, courts and others will attend the Home Office's anti-social behaviour Academies which will help improve their response by giving them the knowledge and support to deal with anti-social behaviour. The TOGETHER ActionLine – 0870 220 2000 – provides expert advice and support for practitioners to help transform the approach of those tackling anti-social behaviour across the country.
Hazel Blears, Home Office Minister, said:
"The behaviour of a minority of people can ruin neighbourhoods and destroy people's quality of life. Graffiti, abandoned cars, people begging next to cash-points, noise and nuisance neighbours all affect the way people feel about the capital.
"Across London, police, housing officers, wardens and residents are determined to take a stand against anti-social behaviour. We need to work together to ensure that these problems are tackled not tolerated.
"Today's Academy kicks off the next phase of the Government's TOGETHER campaign. We are determined to transform the approach of front-line workers. A new ActionLine – 0870 220 2000 – is also now available so that these workers get the help, support and information they need and the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 has given people the tools they need to do the job.
"The combination of the TOGETHER ActionLine, an Academy and new powers will renew the determination of people on the front-line to respond more effectively to anti-social behaviour in London."
The Academy in London is one of ten events across the country. At each event local agencies will hear about pioneering work to combat anti-social behaviour and learn how new powers are already having an impact.
Chair of the Association of London Government, Sir Robin Wales, said:
"London boroughs are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and improving the quality of life for all of the capital's seven million residents.
"From the London wide schemes like Operation Scrap-it to tackle the problem of abandoned vehicles, to local borough based graffiti busting squads and street wardens, boroughs are striving to make London a safer place to live, work and visit.
"However, anti-social behaviour is not something one agency can solve on its own, everyone must work together. The academy is an ideal way for us to pass on the good work we, together with a wide range of partners, are already doing and to learn from the work of others."
Councillor Alan Bradley, Cabinet Member for Community Protection at Westminister Council, said:
"The Together Academies will be a useful tool to share best practice. Trailblazing builds on the work that has already been achieved in Westminster in dealing with anti-social behaviour. "
"At the end of February in a joint beggar audit operation with police the majority of beggars arrested had a fixed address outside Westminster. We are the hub of Britain and our one million daily population is very attractive to opportune beggars. Sharing knowledge and learning from others experiences will help us deal with and reduce anti-social behaviour for all our residents, businesses and visitors."
Councillor Dame Jane Roberts, leader of Camden Council, said:
"As a popular inner-city area with a vibrant night-life and main transport links, Camden attracts many people from outside the borough. Homelessness and begging in the borough are high and we work hard to provide the best services for all while balancing the needs of residents and businesses in the area.
"Our Trailblazer status has helped us build on our existing work to tackle begging, and we are already seeing improvements. We're down to ten people sleeping rough and we've helped many people on the streets find suitable accommodation and access to drug and alcohol treatment. We've already used powers available to us to get 66 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and close crack houses, and are looking forward to the chance to share good practice and ideas among front-line workers at the Together Academy."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The TOGETHER Actionline number is 0870 220 2000
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The Anti-Social Behaviour Act received Royal Assent on November 21 2003 [Home Office press notice 317/2003].
3. On October 14 2003, the Government launched the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan and the TOGETHER campaign. These set out what practical help the Government is giving to local authorities, police and other local agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour [Home Office press office 278/2003].
4. TOGETHER Academies are being held in every region across England and Wales during March. The first was held in Birmingham on 3 March. The time-table for the other Academies is:
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Brighton – 4 March
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London – 9 March
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Norwich – 10 March
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Leeds – 17 March
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Nottingham – 18 March
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Sunderland – 23 March
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Manchester – 25 March
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Cardiff – 30 March
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Bristol – 31 March
© Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland
