EHJ July 2003, pages 198-201 The rapid introduction of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill in April was a direct result of the Government's current crusade against 'yob culture' in Britain. Yet critics claim that such 'punishment focused' measures are doomed to fail. Tracey Khanna reports on some examples of local authority good pratice

On 8 April 2003, the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, which contains tough new measures to tackle a range of "sub-criminal" activities including graffiti, fly-posting, noise nuisance and fly-tipping, received its second reading in the House of Commons. The bill awards the police and local authorities an array of new powers to deal with the rise of "yob" culture and low-level criminal activities. In the preceding white paper Respect and responsibility - taking a stand against anti-social behaviour, David Blunkett, Home Secretary, painted a vision of a respectful and responsible civic society, where there is "an acceptance that anti-social behaviour, in whatever guise, is not acceptable, and that together we take responsibility to stamp it out, whenever we come across it."

This sense of "responsibility", according to Mr Blunkett, starts within families, where parents are accountable for their children's actions and setting the standards which they should live by. Extending to neighbours and communities, the Government's aim, he says, is for a "something for something society". But here lies one of the biggest problems facing the Government. An intentional oxymoron, Britain's "yob culture" is arguably not as easily defined as the Government claims and some questions innevitable arise. What defines anti-social behaviour? Further, what constitutes the "yobbish" behaviour that the Government is so eager to stamp out? At what point does bad behaviour become intolerable behaviour? And who decides?

The dictionary defines a "yob" as "an aggressive and surly youth, especially a teenager" - but our so-called "yob culture" is not confined to one age or social group. Rowdy and "yobbish" behaviour is also closely associated in the public mind with excessive alcohol consumption, and drunken behaviour is certainly not limited to youths and teenagers - ask anyone who goes out in city centres after closing time. Professional adults regularly indulge in drunken behaviour - once no doubt dismissed as "high spirits". However, while its critics argue that the lines are blurred between who, or what, the Government is really targeting with this bill, the measures it contains do have a number of implications for environmental health departments across the country.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Bill has, at the time of going to press, received its second reading in the House of Commons and is proceeding through the report stage before being introduced in the House of Lords. If enacted, it will receive royal ascent in the autumn. Some of the main provisions seek to:

• strengthen the powers available to local authorities for dealing with graffiti, fly-tipping and fly-posting;
• make the selling of spray paints to under 18s an offence;
• give environmental health officers the power to close establishments that create noise nuisance, with immediate effect;
• widen the use of fixed penalty notices;
• improve the operation of anti-social behaviour orders;
• support the Private Members Bill on fireworks;
• give police new powers to shut down premises where drugs are being sold and used unlawfully;
• extend landlords' powers to deal with anti-social behaviour in social housing; and
• increase the powers of community support officers and certain other civilians in tackling low level crime and nuisance behaviour.

The Local Government Association supports the Government's broad objectives and welcomes some of the new powers contained in the bill - in particular those relating to the improvement of physical environments. However, the LGA has also expressed its concern that both the white paper and the bill "place an undue emphasis on enforcement". It argues that while enforcement measures do have a role to play in tackling anti-social behaviour, it makes little or no contribution to tackling the root causes that give rise to such behaviour in the first place. These issues are highly topical and the CIEH is looking to organise a conference on anti-social behaviour for the autumn. Here, EHJ looks at a few examples of best practice currently being undertaken by local authorities in the UK.

SAFE AND SOUND

Night-time entertainment can make a significant contribution to a town's vibrancy and prosperity, but in some areas or at some venues, problems of public disorder, alcohol-related crime or drug misuse can blight a town's reputation. This is an escalating problem in the "golden mile" area of Belfast, where up to 20,000 young people visit the numerous pubs and bars in any one night.

A major campaign called "Get Home Safe" is a practical example of multi-agency partnership working to deliver tangible improvements to community safety on the ground. The contribution of Belfast City Council's health and environmental services department to this scheme has included the introduction of a door supervisor's registration scheme, action on illegal street trading and alcohol bylaws, and joint inspections of licensed premises with the police. Between October and December 2002, the campaign took a "three-pronged" approach to reduce the recorded assault crime rate in the South Belfast area and also to reduce people's perception in terms of fear of crime, by increasing their confidence in the general safety of the area.

• The partnership approach initiatives included:
• the introduction of an evening radio link to help keep trouble-makers out of bars;
• training for bar staff and door supervisors;
• introduction of toughened drinking glasses;
• a free night-time bus service for students;
• distribution of personal attack alarms;
• three additional CCTV cameras in the area; and
• an alcohol referral scheme for those suffering from alcohol abuse problems.

The environmental health department also worked closely with the police to remove any illegal night-time street traders from the South Belfast region. Suzanne Wylie, environmental health manager at Belfast City Council, says of the scheme: "the council has been supportive of the Get Home Safe campaign from the outset and is extremely encouraged by the reduction in assault rates. The health and environmental services department contributed to the campaign by introducing a door supervisors' registration scheme, removing illegal night-time street traders and improving health and safety at pubs and clubs."

For more information contact Suzanne Wylie, divisional manager (Health and Safety), Belfast City Council on tel: 02890 270304 or e-mail:wylies@belfastcity.gov.uk

PARTNERS ON CRIME

Environmental health staff at Cherwell District Council in North Oxfordshire play a significant role in the local Community Safety Partnership, both at strategic and operational levels. The head of environmental services chairs a Drugs and Alcohol Action Group. The environmental health manager is the nominated anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) co-ordinator for the partnership and chairs a multi-agency Nuisance and Disorder Action Group, which is responsible for tackling anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Its first ASBO was obtained in 2001 and most recently, the team secured its first "ASBO on conviction" to be granted across the Thames Valley.

The council has created a nuisance investigations team within environmental health, which is responsible for investigating allegations of any anti-social behaviour and not just noise nuisance. The team makes regular use of acceptable behaviour contracts to control the behaviour of young people and attends weekly crime meetings with the local police. Through partnership funding, the service is provided up to 10pm on weekday evenings and since 2002, has benefited from the long-term secondment of a police officer working in the team to tackle persistent young offenders.

The team manages four street wardens who patrol three large housing estates. The wardens have developed an initiative with the local youth offending team to prepare community work programmes aimed at repairing property subject to criminal damage or graffiti. A "safer socialising" initiative for the town centres has also been developed which has led to the declaration of two alcohol free zones and negotiations with the local bus company to trial late night buses at weekends.

For further information visit the council's website: www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk or contact Grahame Helm, environmental health manager on tel: 01295 221615 or e-mail: grahame.helm@cherwell-dc.gov.uk

WRITING'S ON THE WALL FOR GRAFFITI

In January 2001, an anti-graffiti campaign was launched in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, as a result of the extremely high levels of unsightly sectarian and vulgar graffiti and fly-posting in the town centre. A partnership was forged between the environmental health department, the town centre manager, a local youth club and the police to try and tackle the problem.

The initial project aims were to:

• remove graffiti and fly-posting in the town centre;
• apply murals to sites with the most severe graffiti problems;
• apply a substance to eliminate fly-posting; and
• maximise the publicity from the campaign to promote a positive image of the town.

Responsibilities were divided between the partners, with the environmental health department leading on the clean-up of graffiti and fly-posting. The town centre manager was tasked with the marketing and publicity for the campaign, while the youth club and police were charged with the design and application of the mural. Initial project funding came from several sources, and each organisation spent around 35 to 40 hours over a six-month period implementing the project's aims.

The long-term results of the campaign have been significant, with reductions in both graffiti and fly-posting in the area. A quick response to the problem of graffiti has proved vital, as after as little as just two days, removal becomes very difficult as the materials used become "fixed". According to Philip Thompson, senior environmental health officer at Antrim BC, "reducing the amount of graffiti sent out a positive message to the community that graffiti was not acceptable and has made the town centre less threatening and a more desirable place to visit and shop"

For further information on the project contact Philip Thompson, senior environmental health officer, Antrim Borough Council on tel: 028 9448 1319 or e-mail: philip.thompson@antrim.gov.uk