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Anti-social Behaviour Awareness Week — [Mr Virendra Sharma in the Chair]
20 July 2022
Lead MP
Jacob Young
Responding Minister
Amanda Solloway
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementEconomyTransport
Word Count: 9102
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Jacob Young raised concerns about anti-social behaviour awareness week — [mr virendra sharma in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government needs plans to further reduce antisocial behaviour. Sentencing should escalate penalties for repeat offenders to prevent lawlessness escalation. Community Behaviour Orders (CBOs) need more teeth as deterrents and parenting orders should be used more frequently. Housing associations must address problem tenants.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
56% of people believe more needs to be done to tackle antisocial behaviour. Off-road bikes in Redcar and Cleveland are causing destruction, noise pollution around schools, and enable drug trade due to police inability to intervene for safety reasons. Criminal damage and vandalism are prevalent, with vandals destroying community efforts like murals on railway bridges.
Angela Rayner
Lab
Ashton-under-Lyne
Agrees with the hon. Member on the importance of common-sense policing and increasing police presence. Supports local initiatives such as mural projects but highlights the need for sustained action beyond one-off events.
Chris Evans
Lab Co-op
Caerphilly
Mr Evans highlighted the significant rise in antisocial behaviour reports post-lockdown, affecting his constituency. He detailed issues such as graffiti, off-road biking, drug use, and threatening behaviour which have escalated with summer months bringing worse conditions. Constituents struggle to report these crimes due to slow response times on non-emergency lines like 101. Mr Evans emphasized the need for timely reporting systems and cross-party collaboration to address issues including illegal off-road biking and intimidation of high street businesses, impacting their viability. He stressed the importance of youth services and community sports clubs as prevention measures against antisocial behaviour.
Margaret Ferrier
Ind
Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Ms Ferrier congratulated the hon. Member on securing the debate, highlighting an increase in youth disorder issues causing frustration among constituents and businesses. She acknowledged local police efforts but pointed out barriers to tackling these problems. In her constituency, Margaret Ferrier highlights the issue of graffiti which upsets residents and mentions Cambuslang Community Council's initiative to brighten up their community with murals. There is a link between the soaring cost of living and an increase in antisocial behaviour. With more people pushed into poverty, mental health deteriorates and individuals become disillusioned, leading to a rise in antisocial acts.
Mike Amesbury
Lab
Runcorn
Mr Amesbury thanked the hon. Member for securing the debate and mentioned similar issues with off-road bikes in his constituency, involving partnerships such as Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Cheshire's fire service. He noted that police resources are under pressure and suggested a need for more neighbourhood policing.
Paul Howell
Lab
Sedgefield
In the north-east of my constituency, we have very poor public transport. People committing antisocial behaviour often do so in neighbouring villages or nearby areas. I also noted an incident where a constituent's property was set on fire after waving at a quad biker. Groups of young schoolchildren in Ferryhill, part of the Sedgefield constituency, are acting as ambassadors to raise awareness about low-level antisocial behaviour affecting town centre and primary-to-senior school routes. Paul Howell encourages consideration of rural areas affected by fly-tipping, noting its serious impact on farmers' access and crop destruction.
Peter Gibson
Con
Bishop Auckland
I want to point out that off-road bikes cause problems on streets and roads in urban constituencies, not necessarily requiring a patch of grass. He highlighted the problem of off-road bikes in Darlington, which cause noise pollution and pose a danger to pedestrians. Operation Endurance by Durham Constabulary has issued numerous fixed penalty notices and seized vehicles since February 2022. He proposed compulsory insurance and registration for off-road bikes and manufacturers installing immobilisers. Gibson also discussed the need for funding to crush seized vehicles permanently. Mr Peter Gibson is concerned about the lack of national statistics on anti-social behaviour and highlights the importance of PCSOs, noting that in Darlington, 136 new officers were recruited to Durham constabulary, with some directly coming from existing PCSOs. Section 59 notices are having an appreciable impact in Darlington. However, there is a specific issue with the cost of disposing of vehicles seized by local forces, which results in a cycle where the perpetrator ends up getting their vehicle back and continuing to perpetrate antisocial acts.
Sarah Jones
Lab
Croydon West
She highlighted the lack of a coordinated approach to tackling antisocial behaviour and emphasised that it is not low-level crime but underprioritised in policing. She mentioned YouGov polling showing one-third of the UK public had experienced an increase in antisocial behaviour, with just 1% believing it had decreased. The number of neighbourhood police officers has dropped by over 7,000 since 2010, and there is only one officer for every 2,400 people now compared to 1,600 ten years ago. She called on the Minister to restore numbers of PCSOs as they are crucial for addressing antisocial behaviour.
Government Response
Amanda Solloway
Government Response
Discussed government efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour, including principles under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Highlighted funding for safer streets fund and levelling-up fund. Mentioned trials of noise camera technology for enforcement against excessive vehicle noise. Emphasized the importance of reporting crimes to address antisocial behaviour.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.