Information-sharing initiative on antisocial behaviour in Wales

A new database is to enable social workers across Wales to share information with other professionals about perpetrators of antisocial behaviour.

The database, which is being rolled out, will allow social services, community safety partnerships, police and housing departments to record information about the incidence of antisocial behaviour and the personal details of those convicted or suspected of involvement.

The Home Office, which has designed and will run the database, believes it will help track frequent antisocial behaviour offenders. Currently, it is difficult to link offences committed by the same person in different parts of the country or recorded by different agencies.

Dick Powell, antisocial behaviour co-ordinator at Cardiff’s Community Safety Partnership, said: “It will enable us to search by name, address or date of birth. We’ll be able to plot and catch those people that participate in antisocial behaviour and cut out duplication of work.”

Information will be kept on the database for up to a year, depending on the level of offence. Only a few named people in organisations will have access to the information.

It will also link into Project Dragon, the system launched last year that geographically maps antisocial behaviour incidence across south Wales.