Clarke insists antisocial behaviour policies are working

Home secretary Charles Clarke today claims the government’s antisocial behaviour policies are working, as new research is published by the Home Office.

Councils are doing more to tackle antisocial behaviour in the 60 local authorities (trailblazer and action areas) where the government has focused activity, the research finds.

In these areas in the past two years 966 parenting contracts and orders were issued – up 218 per cent on previous years – under antisocial behaviour initiatives, says the government.

There were also:

• 6,456 acceptable behaviour contracts signed by perpetrators (up over 80 per cent)
 
• 1,931 housing injunctions (orders banning people from engaging in antisocial behaviour in social housing, up 52 per cent)

People’s perceptions of high levels of antisocial behaviour in their area have fallen from 25 per cent to 19 per cent over the last two years in trailblazer and action areas, according to the government.

It also says recorded incidents of criminal damage related to antisocial behaviour fell by four per cent in the last year in trailblazer areas.

Clarke said: “The analysis published today shows that in the areas where we and local agencies have concentrated our efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour and where the rise in take up of new powers has been most marked, concern about the problem is falling fast.”

There will be further plans on antisocial behaviour early next year, added Clarke.